Ayr United frustrated by Arbroath stalemate as Honest Men waste chances for vital three points

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Ayr were made to rue missed chances on an afternoon where they drew a blank against a dogged Arbroath at Gayfield. United passed up a number of golden opportunities to return to Ayrshire with the three points as they were ultimately frustrated by the hosts.Boss Lee Bullen had made three changes from the side which lost at home to Inverness last week with Ahkeem Rose coming in for his first start in two months, while Roy Syla and Nick McAllister also returned to the starting line-up.In a tense first half, both sides struggled to create clearcut chances as defences came out on top.

Skipper Sean McGinty went close with an effort which he poked just wide after an Ayr free kick before Rose looked to be hauled down by Lichties skipper Tam O'Brien as he charged through on goal, but ref Euan Anderson gave nothing for the challenge on the edge of the box.Arbroath almost landed a sucker punch on the stroke of half time when Leighton McIntosh glanced a header off the post, but it would have been harsh on Ayr who always looked the far more likely in front of goal.United emerged for the second half with their tails up and Rose blew a great chance when clean through on keeper Ali Adams as he sent his effort straight against the home stopper.

Anton Dowds then fired over after racing clear as Ayr continued to pass up golden chances.Bullen turned to his bench and introduced Fraser Bryden and Franny Amartey, with the latter almost making an immediate impact as his effort was clawed away by Adams.

United continued to pour forward as the game wore on and Chalmers almost won it with an effort which came back off the post after beating Adams.And they survived a huge penalty call in the closing moments when Paddy Reading clashed with Mark