Ayr United earned a second crack at Inverness Caledonian Thistle after a Gareth Wardlaw goal stunned the Highlanders only a minute after the home side took the lead.

In a poor spectacle, the Bell's Second Division side might just have nicked a victory.

Young Rory McAllister opened for Inverness after 52 minutes but Wardlaw's instant reply sent the small Ayr support into raptures before their heroes held on for a draw.

The Honest Men offered a a cautious start and Russell Duncan's first-time strike from 25 yards was superbly touched over the bar by keeper Mark McGeown.

While the home side enjoyed much of the early running, two powerful bursts by Paul Hyslop on the right were a warning.

Hyslop's second surging run saw him twist inside between McAllister and Stuart Golabek before Mark Brown clutched his curling left foot attempt.

When Caley were able to pick holes in the Second Division side's defences, their poise deserted them for the final ball.

After 17 minutes, Barry Wilson's ball behind the defence saw McAllister thwarted just inside the box by Jonathan Baillie.

Three minutes later, a perfectly-weighted ball over the top of the defensive line by Dennis Wyness sent Barry Wilson clear on the right but he failed to reach the waiting McAllister at the far post.

Ayr were happy to get numbers deep behind the ball to stifle Caley, and pressed their hosts well, while also showing a willingness to hit on the break.

Brown was sharp to catch James McKinstry's angled half volley from seven yards at the far post from Craig Conway's cross.

A fine last-gasp challenge by Ayr's Mark Casey also proved timely on McAllister as he wound up to shoot six yards out.

After a subdued start to the second half, chaos broke loose after 52 minutes.

Against the run of play, Ross Tokely's cross from the right found Wyness, who struck the bar from only four yards.

Fortunately for the home side, McAllister reacted quickly on the rebound to force the ball home from 10 yards.

But Caley were caught napping immediately from the restart.

As Ayr tore forward, Jerome Vareille's lay-off created space for Wardlaw to lash low past Brown from the edge of the area.

As the small band of Ayr fans went wild, Wardlaw was booked for leaping in to join their celebrations.

It took Caley until the 69th minute to worry Ayr again with a low Liam Fox strike through a crowded penalty box cleared off the line by Dougie Ramsay.

Substitute Andy Reid struck inches past the keeper's right hand post from 20 yards as Ayr went looking for a glorious winner.

Conway beat Tokely on the left before his blocked shot was curled just over bar by Vareille from 18 yards.

Caley's frustrating day was summed up as Golabek missed a howler from eight yards with five minutes left.

Teams

Inverness CT Brown, Tokely, Dods, McCaffrey, Golabek, Wilson, Duncan, Fox (Hart 78), Morgan, Wyness (Dargo 75), McAllister.

Subs Not Used: Fraser, Keogh, Proctor.

Booked: Fox, Dods, Golabek, Dargo, Hart.

Goals: McAllister 52.

Ayr McGeown, McKinstry, McLaughlin, Bailey, Ramsay, Hyslop (Reid 76), Casey, Robertson, Conway, Vareille (Strain 88), Wardlaw (Cashmore 82).

Subs Not Used: Phillips, Templeton.

Booked: Bailey, Wardlaw.

Goals: Wardlaw 53.

Att: 2,126

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).