George Oakley comes back to haunt Morton in 1-1 draw

Iain Wilson's first goal of the season put his side ahead inside the final ten minutes of the first half before Oakley levelled up five minutes after the break in similar circumstances in a game that was there to be won on another night.

Iain Wilson poked the ball past Russell to net (Image: Gary Bradley)The importance of this tie couldn't be understated as Imrie's men aimed to stop a barren run of three straight defeats in which they'd shipped ten goals in the space of seven days.

The Ton boss made two changes to the side that lost heavily to Falkirk last time around in a bid to turn the tide.

That was a harrowing day for the Ton boss - who insists it was the lowest he'd felt in his tenure as Cappielow chief.

Morton (4-2-3-1): Budinauckas, Blues, Baird, Broadfoot, Boyes, Wilson, Gillespie(King,68), Moffat(McGinn,68), Garrity(Shaw,68), Lyall, Stuparevic(Davies,72)

Subs not used: Delaney, Davies, Samuels, O'Boy

Bookings: Boyes (19), Imrie (44)

Scorers: Wilson (37)

Ayr United (4-4-2): Russell, McAllister (Watret,73), Stanger, McMann, Musonda, Dempsey, Rus (Bavidge, 73), Henderson, Howley (McKenzie, 58), Oakley, McLennan

Subs not used: Stone, Reading, Hislop, Syla, Howley,

Bookings: Brown (37), McAllister (44), Dempsey (56), Watret (81), Oakley (90+1).

Scorers: Oakley (51)

Ref: Peter Stuart

MoTM: Iain Wilson

ATT: 1,697

That saw him take Zac Delaney and Niall McGinn out of the firing line - as they were replaced by Morgan Boyes and Iain Wilson, who returned from his singular match suspension.

But they'd need to be at their best if they were to stop Scott Brown's big spending Ayr United train in front of the television cameras.

Ayr's preparations took a dent in the build up to kick off as Jamie Murphy hobbled off with a torn calf, and was replaced by Ryan Howley.

And after a cagey start from both sides it would be Imrie's men who saw a strong penalty shout turned down after a quarter of an hour.

Filip Stuparevic was looking to get on the end of an early cross but was hauled down by George Stanger inside the box, but whistler Peter Stuart was unmoved.

Other than that the only chance of note in the opening 30 minutes was from Michael Garrity, who was the beneficiary of a quick break high up the pitch; Arron Lyall fed him the ball, to take on Nick McAllister and he cut onto his right foot and curled wide of the mark.

And the home side would get their reward eight minutes before the break as Iain Wilson reacted first to get on the end of a Kirk Broadfoot knock-down to poke the ball beyond Liam Russell.

Iain Wilson netted his first of the season to put Morton 1-0 up (Image: Gary Bradley)Tempers flared shortly before the break as McAllister sent Lyall flying into the home dugout; the Ayr man took a few of the Ton coaching staff with him, and both he and Imrie would go into the book.

Ton's lead though was surrendered just five minutes after the break as George Oakley came back to haunt his former employers.

Anything Wilson did, Oakley could do better; he got on the end of Jay Henderson's free kick to stab the ball home first time.

Filip Stuparevic thought he'd netted his second Cappielow goal in as many home games not long after when he met Garrity's delivery from the right but his bullet header was right at Russell.

Imrie's next move was to give Cappielow supporters a first glance at summer signing Nathan Shaw who came on with little under 20 minutes to play.

His introduction looked to swing the balance in his side's favour, as both sides went for a winner.

Both teams saw the ball flash across goal in the closing stages as the game looked destined to finish on level terms, and Alfie Bavidge had one last gasp effort that stung the palms of Lewis Budinauckas, but both sides settled for a point as Morton moved two points above Dunfermline Athletic.