Ayr United 1
Falkirk 1
League (Championship)

Match Report

Ethan Walker's late equaliser for Ayr United delayed Falkirk's back-to-back title celebrations - and a return to the Scottish Premiership for the first time in 15 years - for at least another week.

It looked like Sean Mackie's magnificent first-half strike would leave second-top Livingston needing to beat Greenock Morton on Saturday in order to deny John McGlynn's side successive promotions, but Ayr had other ideas.

The hosts, who made it a nervy night for the league leaders, dug deep to spark wild scenes in the home end at Somerset Park and spoil the promotion party for Falkirk.

The Bairns looked like they were carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders for large parts of the first half.

They were far from the fluid side so often on show this season - none more so than last weekend's 5-0 mauling of Morton - but were sparked into life by Mackie’s sweet strike.

Just before half-time, the defender latched on to a poor clearance to drill in a first-time volley and send the away fans behind the goal into raptures.

Home striker George Oakley had earlier headed against the crossbar, but it could have been a more comfortable evening for the healthy travelling support had the league leaders not squandered a spree of chances.

Instead, they were made to pay for their profligacy when Walker bundled home the leveller before the winger was sent off for a second yellow card.

Livingston are now nine points behind and, considering Falkirk have a far superior goal difference, still cannot afford to lose in Greenock on Saturday if they are to have a realistic chance of catching the Bairns.

Ayr United head coach Scott Brown: "They're a good team. They've came here twice and we've taken four points, so it shows how close we are.

"John's done a great job with them. They've been together that long, they understand each other. They've made subs, we've made subs, and our subs made the difference.

"Overall, it was an even game. Not too much in it. We could have been in at half-time 1-0 up, but I love the never-say-die attitude that the lads have."

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "It's another point on the board, it's another step closer. For long spells, I thought we deserved the three points.

"I thought it was really good advert for Championship football. Our first half performance was really good, we had opportunities we should have done better with, but then Sean Mackie comes up with a great strike and I thought we were deserving of that."

Match report written by BBC