Hamilton 3 - 2 Ayr United: Survival hopes remains up in the Ayr

BRAVE Ayr were hit with a cruel late sucker punch to remain deep in relegation trouble as Accies kept going to cash in on their numerical advantage and earn the win their patience probably deserved.

The Honest Men’s need for the points was certainly the greater, and despite there being a touch of the kick and rush about their approach play, they were ahead with a little over 15 minutes played as Mark Roberts seized on a slack clearance to zip a finish past rookie keeper, Blair Currie.

However, Accies didn’t have long to wait to get back on an even keel, Jon McShane bustling his way past Adam Dodd before clipping an impressively angled finish into the far corner.

Ayr’s task was made all the harder three minutes after the restart when Eddie Malone was softly dismissed by referee Craig Charleston, with Accies wasting little time taking advantage through a glorious Danny Redmond curler. Whatever shortcomings Ayr have, one of them isn’t a lack of spirit as they showed with an immediate leveller, Michael McGowan stealing in round the back before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.

Just as it looked like United were going to take a point, the always dangerous McShane, pictured, arrived unmarked at the back post to tap the ball home from what looked a suspiciously offside position.