SCOTT Arfield continued his fairytale return at Falkirk as the Bairns overturned Ayr’s two goal lead to stay top of the Championship.
Both sides delivered a four goal cracker in front of a sold out crowd as they traded blows in a game befitting of the occasion.
Ultimately, Ayr were left to rue what might have been after racing into a first half lead courtesy of Jay Henderson’s penalty and a strike from George Oakley. They spurned further chances to stretch the lead before Liam Henderson headed a vital goal for the hosts on the stroke of half time.
That set the stage for a rousing second half and Ayr were undone when Arfield bagged his fourth goal in two games when pouncing from close range to ensure a share of the spoils.
United boss Scott Brown said: “Individual errors have cost us and it’s gutting to lose two points like that having worked so hard over the course of the game. The first goal just before half time was the big one. But we showed today we’re a good team – physically we’re in a good place.
“It comes down to small details and if we don’t lose the goal towards the end of the first half, we’re in a far better position in the game. So it’s disappointing not to see the game out but we move on to the next game now.
“Today was a great advert for the Championship and Scottish football. It would have been a great one for TV. Our fans came in big numbers and were fantastic – they silenced the home crowd for long spells today.”
Brown had gone with the same side which went toe to toe with Hibs in the cup last week, and after riding an early Falkirk flurry it was Ayr who struck the first blow.
Scott McMann drove at the Falkirk defence and made it all the way into the opposition box before his run was halted by Keelan Adams, with ref Steven McLean blowing for a stonewall penalty. The spot kick was slammed home with minimal fuss by Henderson to send the Ayr support wild.
United doubled their lead when Ben Dempsey released Connor McLennan whose shot cannoned off the post and into the path of Oakley to fire home from close range. Suddenly Ayr looked like running away with the game and Oakley fired wide a chance for a third as they had the hosts on the ropes.
But then came a key moment just seconds before the break when Bairns defender Henderson rose to head home from a corner, signalling a big momentum shift in the contest.
Ayr still played with a degree of control after the break, but Falkirk had gone more direct through substitute Barney Stewart and it was he who forced their equaliser just after the hour. Ayr felt Stewart had fouled McMann in the build up but as play raged on, Stewart’s shot was spilled by Harry Stone and Arfield was on hand to bundle home and level the game.
It was anyone’s at that stage and McLennan tested Nicky Hogarth at the other end as Ayr immediately tried for a response to go back in front. But despite both sides throwing plenty forward in the closing stages, they had to settle for a point apiece as it remained status quo in the title race.