Dundee 2
Ayr United 4
League (First Division)

Match Report

A far-post cross from Fraser is made difficult for Sinclair by the attention of Hendry. The Dundee man's header goes wide.

Ayr go ahead with a gift goal in two minutes.

MacLaren misses a forward ball and 21-year-old newcomer REILLY nips in to slam the easy chance low past Williams as the keeper comes out.

Williams just beats Connor to another long ball into the penalty area.

The running of the confident Ayr side plus a stiff breeze combine to keep Dundee pinned in their own half until the 10th minute when they level with a fine goal.

Nicol fouls Murphy just inside the Ayr half and Barr sends a slide-rule free kick to SINCLAIR, who turns quickly to send a low shot past Rennie into the far corner of the net.

Dundee have their tails up and Glennie takes on the role of a winger as he races to the corner flag to send over an outswinger. The ball comes to Sinclair, who looses his balance as he shoots and his effort goes wide.

Williamson is closer with a 20-yard shot which skims the top of the bar. Mackie weaves past Fleeting then hits his cross too far.

Rennie chases the ball, and, in a situation which has the makings of a defensive tangle, McColl heads safely for a corner. Scrimgeour gets into the action with a left-foot shot which Rennie holds.

Play is fast, but scrappy, with too many passes finding their way to opponents' feet.

Connor tests Williams with a 35-yarder after a free. The ball swings wildly and the 'keeper has to follow it closely.

Schaedler dives to head the ball away from the edge of the goal area after Connor makes an opening with a neat header.

Dundee are offered a gift in half an hour and turn it down.BMurphy is allowed to go on, when the Ayr players firmly believe he is off-side. Sinclair is in support and Rennie's position looks hopeless. Murphy tries to beat then'keeper and is hopelessly off target. Sinclair catches the ball before it goes out and can only hammer it into the side net.

Ayr come close to celebrate this escape as McCutcheon sends a header inches wide.

Scorer Reilly is booked after a foul which flattens 'keeper Williams,

The Ayr goal has the escape of the season. Dundee come to the boil as a Barr shot comes off the post. Scrimgeour's header hits the bar and post, runs across the goal to hit the other post, then is cleared.

Dundee claim the ball is over the line in vain. McCutcheon is booked after fouling MacLaren.

Half-time-Dundee 1, Ayr, 1

Reflections This is a keen contest which offers something for everyone, including the football purist. Dundee were visibly shaken by the loss of the early goal, but have fought their way back and experienced the roughest of luck in front of goal.

Les Barr joins Dundee's eager attack and is in good position and screaming for a pass. Fraser mis-hits his pass and the ball goes out. Scrimgeour wins the ball in midfield and sends Sinclair on a long chase. The striker gets the ball across to the far post and Fraser's drive rebounds from a defender.

Dundee's almost non-stop pressure brings reward in 53 minutes. Sinclair does lots of hard work to the right of goal and the ball eventually goes out to Murphy.

The winger's little chip into the middle is the target for half a dozen heads and SCRIMGEOUR gets the vital touch almost on the goal line to knock the ball in. The referee is right on the spot and signals a goal to stifle Ayr complaints that the 'keeper was impeded.

Dundee try hard to keep their momentum going. There's magic from Murphy and a tremendous left foot shot from Scrimgeour which misses by a hair's breadth.

Ayr send on McGhee for Love.

A Murphy corner swinging into goal until Rennie punches it over. Shanks is lucky to get the ball at the corner of the Dundee penalty area when two home defenders fail to clear.

The Ayr man does not make the most of his luck and shoots wild and wide. He has much better luck with a cross in 69 minutes, which brings a surprise equaliser.

Williams misses the ball as he goes up with two Ayr players. The ball hits the post and rebounds to MORRIS, who hits it into the net.

The tartan travelling rugs fly out of the Ayr dug-outs as the manager and other occupants celebrate a third goal in 74 minutes.

A long ball from the left finds REILLY with no one near him and the youngster strides in from the right to hit a low shot past Williams.

Ayr almost strike again when a long ball finds Morris unmarked on the right. He transfers the ball to Fleeting, who is equally un

marked. The final shot lacks

power and Williams grabs

Fraser cannot control a bouncing ball in the Ayr penalty area, with the result that his shot is little more than a gentle push in the direction of Rennie.

Rennie punches a Sinclair shot high over the bar in a Dundee break, which seems certain to bring a goal.

There's drama seven minutes from the end, when Reilly arms the ball away in the box. The ref immediately gives a penalty. Shanks' protests earn him a booking, then Fraser's spot kick is saved by Rennie.

A minute later Ayr break again and McCUTCHEON is all on his own when the ball reaches him. He has little difficulty in scoring his side's fourth.

Final-Dundee 2, Ayr 4.

Summing-Up-It will be tomorrow before most of the fans get their breath and their voices back. This was a helter-skelter game in which Dundee's pro motion hopes took a severe dunt in a welter of missed chances and gift goals. Ayr's late blast of three goals in 15 minutes shattered the Dens Parkers to a decisive defeat, which seemed far from likely till Ayr equalised.

Match report written by The Sporting Post