Finally we got back to league business facing Ayr United at home after last Saturday's fixture against Queen of the South was postponed.  Manager Terry Butcher made one change from the side that defeated Raith Rovers 4-0 a fortnight ago, Danni Sanchez replacing Eric Odhiambo.

 We carved out an early opportunity in the opening minutes when a cross from the right was headed down by Richie Foran in the penalty box but on the turn Adam Rooney could not find enough power in his shot and Ayr goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay collected easily.

On 24 minutes Ayr United took the lead, a Dean Keenan free kick into the box caused problems for us and that allowed Tam McManus to get a weak shot in on goal.  Nauris Bulvitis was back on the line but his attempted clearance came back off the base of the post for Andy Aitken to tap over the line.

 Five minutes later and Ayr had made it two, a through ball from Dean Keenan found striker Mark Roberts and he skipped past Ryan Esson to fire into the empty net from 15 yards. Minutes later we spurned a great opportunity to pull a goal back, a Jonny Hayes free kick went right through to the back post but Richie Foran's effort slipped past the far post.  The Stephen Grindlay pushed away a long range effort from Russell Duncan as we searched for a goal before half-time.

Right on the stroke of half-time we pulled a goal back, a Ross Tokely cross from the right found Richie Foran at the back post and he slid in to send the ball into the back of the net off the legs of Ayr keeper Grindlay.

Half-time score: ICT 1 (Foran 44 mins) - Ayr United 2 (Aitken 24 mins, Roberts 29 mins)

With 48 minutes played we nearly netted the equaliser, a Ross Tokely cross from deep was turned towards his own goal by Dean Keenan at the back post but somehow goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay and the full back managed to scramble the ball off the goal line.

We then hit the post four minutes later, a Jonny Hayes corner kick was head flicked on by Adam Rooney but Richie Foran's volley at the back post came crashing back off the post.

On the hour mark we pulled it back to 2-2 through Jonny Hayes with a wonderful individual strike, he cut in from the right flank and stepped inside his marker before curling a left footed effort into the bottom corner of the net.

Eight minutes later some sustained pressure on the visitors goal almost brought us the lead for the first time today when we worked the opening for Dani Sanchez on the right hand side of the box however his shot flashed right across the face of goal.

But on 71 minutes it was Ayr United who took the lead again totally against the run of play, Tam McManus was played through behind our defence and under no pressure he slammed the ball home.

Eric Odhiambo then replaced Dani Sanchez in our first substitution of the afternoon.  Nauris Bulvitis then saw a header cleared off the line before he made way for Lee Cox on the 82nd minute.

Four minutes into injury time and we were awarded a penalty when Grant Munro was pulled down in the box, Adam Rooney made no mistake smashing the ball into the net.

Full-time score: ICT 3 (Foran 44 mins, Hayes 60 mins, Rooney 94 mins) - Ayr United 3 (Aitken 24 mins, Roberts 29 mins, McManus 71 mins)

ICT Team

Esson

Tokely, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek

Duncan, Proctor

Hayes, Sanchez, Foran

Rooney

Subs: Allison (GK), Cox for Bulvitis (82 mins), McBain, Odhiambo for Sanchez (71 mins), Eagle