AYR UNITED 2

Akinyemi (3), Murdoch (85)

HAMILTON ACCIES 2

Winter (14), O’Reilly (73)

Lee Bullen had to draw breath after a stunning finish from Andy Murdoch earned Ayr a point in a game they had threatened to throw away.

Dipo Akinyemi got the Honest Men off to a flier but Accies turned the tables with goals from Andy Winter and Daniel O’Reilly.

Bullen claimed: “Over the whole game it feels like two points lost but ultimately when you are 2-1 down with 10 minutes to go you are delighted to get at least a point.

“I thought we shaded the first half and were the better team, but second half we had a bit of a lull and made mistakes but came strong again at the end. Overall I’m disappointed but ultimately it’s three games undefeated.

“Andy Murdoch’s strike was brilliant – it’s like hen’s teeth like that, a left-foot goal from Andy outside the box.

“Andy is one of those who gets stronger and stronger as the game goes on.”

Both teams went at it hammer and tongs in a hot start which took only three minutes to produce a goal.

Daire O’Connor opened up the Accies defence and when the ball broke to Akinyemi he made no mistake with a simple finish from close range.

Accies had a stunning response when they drew level on 14 minutes and there was nothing that keeper Charlie Albinson could do to stop Winter’s curling shot from outside the box that flew into the top corner.

Akinyemi showed all his strength when he almost restored Ayr’s lead on 34 minutes, holding off two challenges only for his deft attempt to strike the outside of the post.

Akinyemi thought he had scored on 50 minutes when he slid home a ball from Murdoch but was ruled offside.

Then Jean Pierre Tiehi wasted a great chance for Accies when he failed to beat Albinson from close range.

There was no denying the visitors on 73 minutes when O’Reilly climbed high at the back post to power home a header from a Reegan Mimnaugh corner.

With five minutes left, Ayr took a deserved point when Murdoch volleyed a spectacular equaliser from 25 yards.

Accies boss John Rankin claimed: “The last five minutes were like basketball. We didn’t want to settle for a point and neither did Ayr.

“We’ve scored two goals away from home but it feels like nothing when you concede so late on.”