Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
Ayr United 2
League (League (Championship))


ICT 

1 - 2

Ayr United


League (League (Championship))
Friday, May 5th, 2023
Attendance: 3,435


Goalscorers
Shaw (81'minutes) Josh Mullin (35)
Mark McKenzie (88)

Team Managers
Billy Dodds Lee Bullen

Starting Eleven
1 Ridgers
2 Duffy
5 Deas
6 Devine
3 Harper
20 Henderson
18 Allardice
4 Welsh
22 Shaw
17 Mackay
9 Mckay
Charlie Albinson
Frankie Musonda
Patrick Reading
Sean McGinty
Michael Hewitt
Josh Mullin
Ben Dempsey
Andy Murdoch
Sam Ashford
Dipo Akinyemi
Chris Maguire

Bench
8 Carson
10 Doran
12 MacGregor
16 Hyde
21 MacKay
23 Delaney
24 Samuels
28 Woods
30 Boyd
Aiden McAdams
Carter Jenkins
Nick McAllister
Daire OConnor
Mark McKenzie
Reece Mcalear
Jayden Mitchell-Lawson
Fraser Bryden
Paul Smith

Substitutions
2 Duffy for Carson 45'minutes
6 Devine for Delaney 73'minutes
18 Allardice for Hyde 73'minutes
4 Welsh for Woods 79'minutes
17 Mackay for Samuels 45'minutes
Reece Mcalear for Sam Ashford (64)
Mark McKenzie for Josh Mullin (76)
Jayden Mitchell-Lawson for Chris Maguire (76)
Daire OConnor for Patrick Reading (86)
Fraser Bryden for Andy Murdoch (86)

Cautions
Henderson Charlie Albinson

Red Cards
None. None.

Match Officials

Don Robertson (Referee)





Photography by SNS Group

Match Report


Mark McKenzie's 88th-minute strike propelled Ayr United from fifth to second and into the Scottish Championship play-offs as Scottish Cup finalists Inverness Caledonian Thistle missed out.

Josh Mullin's fine first-half finish had Ayr in control and on course for second, only for Nathan Shaw to score for Inverness on 81 minutes and put both teams out of the top four.

But McKenzie finished from Daire O'Connor's cross to propel Ayr back up the table.

That sparked wild scenes from the travelling fans and their side held on to ensure they go straight to the semi-finals of the play-offs, where they will face either Queen's Park or Partick Thistle.

Inverness had made a late charge for the play-offs, but finish sixth and are left to rue an injury-hit season, though they have the consolation of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on 3 June.

Lee Bullen, Ayr United manager: "I think both teams played a massive part in that game, [it was] an emotional rollercoaster. I do feel for [Inverness manager] Billy [Dodds], yes obviously we are absolutely delighted to get there.

"But his team in that second half, I thought we controlled the first half, but his team in that second half deserve a lot credit."

Match report written by BBC



Squad Statistics (as at May 5th, 2023)


2022-23 All Time
Age
Charlie Albinson (GK)26 38 - 49 -
Frankie Musonda25 282282
Sean McGinty29 403754
Patrick Reading23 44 - 1093
Josh Mullin - 249249
Michael Hewitt22 16 - 29 -
Andy Murdoch28 3221486
Ben Dempsey23 448518
Chris Maguire - 13 - 13 -
Dipo Akinyemi25 45254525
Sam Ashford27 393525
Daire OConnor (sub)26 291542
Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (sub) - 322322
Reece Mcalear (sub)21 16 - 16 -
Mark McKenzie (sub)22 4051129
Fraser Bryden (sub)18 192313






League Table (as at May 5th, 2023)


Pld W D L Pts
1. Dundee 35 17 12 6 63
2. Ayr United 36 16 10 10 58
3. Queen's Park 36 17 7 12 58
4. Morton 36 15 12 9 57
5. ICT 36 15 10 11 55
6. Partick Thistle 35 15 9 11 54
7. Raith Rovers 36 11 10 15 43
8. Arbroath 36 6 16 14 34
9. Hamilton Academical 36 7 10 19 31
10. Cove Rangers 36 7 10 19 31