Ross County clawed back a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 in a thrilling top of the table Championship encounter against Ayr United.
Although County had taken the lead at Somerset Park through Josh Mullin’s outstanding strike, the Staggies trailed 3-1 at half time against the Honest Men, who struck through Lawrence Shankland’s double and an Andy Geggan effort.
An excellent fightback at the start of the second half earned Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson’s a point however, with Billy Mckay and Don Cowie on target to ensure County remain a point behind Ayr at the top of the table.
County were unchanged from the side which drew 1-1 with Queen of the South the previous weekend, with midfielder Iain Vigurs back among the substitutes.
Ayr threatened in the opening minutes, with Michael Rose heading Declan McDaid’s corner over, however it was the Staggies who took the lead in spectacular fashion on 12 minutes when Stelios Demetriou’s delivery was volleyed home first time by Mullin from 12 yards.
Ayr forced Scott Fox into action for the first time through Shankland’s low shot which the goalkeeper did well to hold on to, however the attacker levelled confidently from the spot on 20 minutes after Ross Draper was adjudged to have hauled down Rose at another McDaid corner by referee Bobby Madden.
Ayr turned the game on its head just five minutes later, with Shankland again on target to steer McDaid’s free kick past Fox from close range. Ian McCall’s men added a third before the interval, with Fox left stranded after colliding with Shankland before Geggan bundled home from close range, with Staggies co-manager Steven Ferguson sent to the stand for protesting at Madden’s lack of action.
County emerged with purpose after the interval however, and restored parity within seven minutes. Their second goal arrived on 48 minutes when Mckay netted from the spot after he had been felled by Rose.
Mckay was denied a leveller by Doohan moments later, however the Staggies equalised on 52 minutes as Mullin’s driven ball in from the left was cut out by Doohan, but only into the path of Cowie who tucked home from close range.
County had Fox to thank for keeping them level on 75 minutes when he did brilliantly to block Liam Smith’s effort with his legs, while the Staggies were unable to find a winner from a flurry of late pressure on the hosts’ goal.
