GREENOCK MORTON returned to league action with Scott Brown’s stuttering Ayr United side coming to Cappielow.
Both sides were in search of their first win of the season after the home side picked up two draws in their first two games, with the Ayrshire side one behind after a disappointing defeat to Raith Rovers.
Before kick-off, the stadium fell silent in remembrance of Dougie Imrie’s daughter Remi, who passed away earlier in the week after a premature birth.
Despite the tragic and both sides struggled circumstances, Imrie was in to force either keeper into the dugout for the fixture, action early on.
It wasn’t until Curtis Main’s improvised flick at the front post forced James Storer into a smart save that either side began to pose any goal threat.
Soon after, veteran Michael O’Halloran got on the ball after an incisive run inside the fullback and looked to pick out a Morton player – only for Kevin Holt to stop the ball with his hand and give away a penalty.
With Grant Gillespie and Tomi Adeloye both unavailable, the responsibility fell to new-boy, Eamonn Brophy, and despite David Mitchell diving the right way the 29-year-old tucked his effort right into the goalkeepers right corner to put Morton one up after 25 minutes of play.
Despite another close range opportunity falling to Main, the big man was unable to convert, and a sweeping move from right to left teed up Brophy to try for his second, only to be thwarted by Mitchell.
The first-half was a tale of two strikers as Main headed over from the back post at a corner, before Imrie’s men worked the ball to the other end and Brophy set up Moffat to strike narrowly wide.
But disaster struck early on in the second period, as Ayr recycled a corner kick and lofted the ball back into the six yard box, where Kevin Holt was on hand to send a diving header into the net.
And less than five minutes later the Honest Men doubled their lead through another corner kick.
Nick McAllister rose unopposed at the front post to head home and inflict a second set piece goal on the Ton in only a few minutes, much to the dismay of those in the home end.
Scott Brown’s side would force Storer into action from another corner, before returning hitman George Oakley forced the on-loan goalie to tip his header onto the bar to deny him a goal on his return with less than ten minutes left to play.
But Mitchell wouldn’t be as fortunate, as with minutes left to play Nathan Shaw whipped an inswinging cross into the box from the left, which Brophy headed in off the post to level the game at 2-2.
Substitute, Zak McKay, had a chance to win it at the death after neatly threading the ball past Holt, but the youngster was hasty in pulling the trigger and Mitchell held his effort with ease.
