No Dip in form for Akinyemi
MORTON 1 Muirhead (80) AYR UNITED 2
Akinyemi (34), McKenzie (74)
Dipo Akinyemi kept up his sensational scoring run as Ayr claimed a hard-fought Cappielow win to maintain their one-point lead at the top of the Championship.
The striker netted the opening goal to take his record to seven goals in his last five matches, before setting up Mark McKenzie for the second.
Robbie Muirhead turned home with 10 minutes left to set up a grandstand finish but Dougie Imrie’s side were unable to complete a dramatic comeback.
Ayr boss Lee Bullen said: “Without doubt, that’s the biggest three points of the season for us.
“It was probably not a connoisseur’s game of football to watch shall we say, but it was a Scottish Championship game where sleeves had to be rolled up, there was going to be bumps and bruises, managers screaming at officials’ decisions – it had everything and I’m delighted to have come away with the three points.
“When they got their first goal, you just knew that everything was going to be up in tin-hats. I don’t want to play like that, but if we have to play like that to get three points then we will do that.”
After a bright opening, the first real opportunity fell to the hosts and after a neat passing exchange, Robbie Crawford found himself bearing down on goal – only to be denied by Charlie Albinson.
Brilliant defending by Ben Dempsey prevented Crawford from reaching Jai Quitongo’s cutback just inside the visitors’ sixyard box, and United responded immediately with a rapid counter that ended with Daire O’Connor lashing just wide of the target.
Ayr broke the deadlock 11 minutes before half-time when Akinyemi collected a loose ball on the edge of the box, before shuffling on to his left foot and drilling a low shot into the bottom right corner. Bullen’s side had Andy Murdoch to thank for keeping their lead intact as the defender superbly kept out Jack Baird’s goal-bound header just before the break.
Sam Ashford headed wide and Akinyemi blasted an effort over as Ayr made a bright start to the second half. They passed-up a gilt-edged opportunity when McKenzie nodded wide when it looked easier to score, but the striker soon redeemed himself.
This time, Akinyemi turned provider – teeing up his strike partner to sweep the ball home.
Muirhead scrambled the ball into the net from close range to set up a dramatic finish but despite a flurry of late attacks, the visitors held on for the victory.
Morton boss Imrie said: “Credit to Ayr, when their chances came along they took them and on the flipside of that when we got our chances we only took one and never took the rest.”
MORTON:
(4-2-3-1) – Schwake 5, Pignatiello 5 (Lithgow 79, 2), O’Connor 5, Baird 5, Kabia 6 (Strapp 79, 2), Blues 6, Muirhead 6, Quitongo 6, Crawford 6, Gillespie 5, King 5. Unused subs – Green, Hynes, McGrattan, McGregor
AYR UNITED:
(4-4-2) – Albinson 6, Houston 6 (McAllister 90), Reading 6, Musonda 6, Murdoch 6, Dempsey 6, Akinyemi 8 (McGinty 90), O’Connor 6 (Mullin 61, 4), Kirk 6, McKenzie 7, Ashford 5 (Mitchell-Lawson 69, 4). Unused subs – Carter, Young, Hewitt, Bangala, Smith