FIRST DIVISION

Going down fighting Ayr United 1 Clyde............................1

THIS was the result neither side wanted, but scores elsewhere mean the damage could have been worse with Ayr United clinging to First Division survival and Clyde still in the promotion hunt.

Clyde boss Alan Kernaghan made his intentions clear by sending Pat Keogh into a three-pronged attack with Ian Harty and Andy Smith.

This aggressive policy paid dividends in 15 minutes when Keogh put the league leaders in front with a well-worked goal. Jimmy Gibson fed Austin McCann on the left flank who sent over a teasing ball for Keogh to prod the ball over the line from just two yards.

Later, Harty and Keogh were both screaming for a pass when Smith powered his way into the box but the big striker's cross was deflected behind by United's Micky Dunlop. The United defender again came to the rescue from the resultant corner when he cleared the unmarked Harty's effort off the line.

Top scorer Harty should have added to his tally in 25 minutes when Gibson's early ball put him clean through. However, he dithered and Aaron Black was able to intercept.

The home side then mounted a counter-attack when Jamie Doyle's snapped shot brought Clyde goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell into action for the first time. Then Lee Hardy's drilled cross caught the Clyde defence dozing in the sun, forcing Colin Marshall to concede a corner from which Mark Campbell saw his looping header sneak inches wide of the far post. Clyde recovered their poise before the break and should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, but again Harty squandered an excellent chance after being sent clear by Jack Ross.

Clyde produced a sweeping move fitting of champions on the restart when the ball was transferred from one end to the other with a series of crisp passes. Only an off-target header by Andy Smith scuppered a contender for goal of the season. United responded through a couple of in-swinging Doyle corners which kept Halliwell on his toes. The Clyde keeper foiled Doyle again with a smart save after the youngster sent an accurate shot through a ruck of players.

At the other end Smith saw his shot hit the left-hand upright as the leaders pushed for the clincher. Instead they found themselves level when Marc Smyth's cross was headed high into the net by Campbell. In a frantic finish, both Mark Gilhaney and Mark McLaughlin saw efforts cleared off the line.

Ayr United (3-5-2): Roy; Campbell, Black, Dunlop (Burgess 77); Lyle, Chaplain (McColl 63), Smyth, Doyle, Hardy; Kean, Brown (Ferguson 57). Subs not used: Mullen, Hillcoat.

Clyde (4-3-3): Halliwell; Mensing, McCluskey, McLaughlin, McCann (McConalogue 76); Ross, Gibson, Marshall; Harty, Keogh (Fotheringham 53), Smith (Gilhaney 64). Subs not used: Kernaghan, Morrison. Booked: Marshall, Mensing. Sent off: Mensing.

Referee: K Clark.

Attendance: 1,816.

Inverness CT 0 Falkirk 0 A CEASELESS second-half siege on 10-man Falkirk failed to reap the solitary goal that would have hoisted Caley Thistle to the First Division summit.

The stalemate means, despite Clyde's draw against Ayr, only the hosts in the Battle of Broadwood can claim the title next week.

Caley Thistle, inept in the first half, mounted a tireless assault after the break and it was credit to the spirit instilled and epitomised by player-manager John Hughes that Falkirk refused to crack. There were a multitude of goal attempts as Falkirk were pegged back, but Steven Hislop must hold up his hands to the worst miss of the day from six yards midway through the second period.

"We're still hanging on to Clyde's coat-tails, but they know they can win it by beating us next week," said Caley manager John Robertson.

"It will be a tremendous finale to a fantastic season," he said. "Obviously, there is disappointment we didn't sneak a goal to go top, but it made no real difference to next week when we need to win. If we had played the whole game like the first half we would have had regrets, but in the second we were fantastic. The players gave everything and that is all I could ask."

Neil Scally, red-carded later for persistent fouling, entered the referee's book after seven minutes for dragging his studs down Barry Wilson's leg.

In warm sunshine that evoked an end-of-season feel, neither side could really get going, but some of the challenges matched the afternoon's heat.

Following the break, the home side re-emerged after an ear- bashing from their manager which was translated into an increased tempo and air of intent.

The artful David Bingham looked like a man possessed as he tried to carve an opening, wrong-footing two defenders only to draw a block from Darren Hill.

Scally walked just after the hour and Hislop suffered his moment of horror 10 minutes later as the barrage continued.

There were three or four long-range efforts from Richie Hart, but Falkirk battled as if their survival depended on it.

John Hughes can look optimistically to next season, while Caley Thistle have enough left in this campaign to keep them occupied.