Ayr United: Scott Brown pleased with point after 1-1 draw with Morton

The Honest Men fell behind midway through the first half on Friday night when former Killie kid Iain Wilson prodded the home side into the lead as their prowess from set pieces came to the fore.Midfielder Iain Wilson scored for Morton (Image: Alex Craig) But United rallied back after the break - and George Oakley would return to Inverclyde and haunt the supporters that used to hold his name in high regard, superbly finishing from a Jay Henderson delivery just six minutes into the second period.

Brown was pleased with his team's reaction after the half time interval and told the Advertiser: “To be fair it was an even game. There wasn’t much in it.

“Morton had their chances from set plays, which came from us twice not moving with the ball.

“That’s what we have to get a wee bit better at. But in the second half, I thought Mark McKenzie was brilliant for us.(Image: Alex Craig) (Image: Alex Craig) “The lads are always in good spirits, they’re always looking to make sure to do the best that they possibly can.

“Do I think they could’ve been better on the ball in the first half? Absolutely.

“They were a bit scared and naive. But in the second half we controlled large periods of the game and we could’ve gone on and won it.

“The second half was very good. I thought that the lads were organised and were at it.”

The Somerset Park boss was disappointed in the manner that his side found themselves falling behind.

He felt aggrieved at the nature of how they conceded the free kick and subsequently failed to deal with the resulting ball into the box.

(Image: Alex Craig) He added: “I’m a little bit disappointed in the decision that saw Morton awarded a free kick, that eventually led to us falling behind.

“But ultimately we need to defend better. Collectively as a team we need to ensure that we’re switched on for the whole 90 minutes.”

The former Celtic hero was delighted for his No.9 to get back on the scoresheet after netting against his former side.

And he hopes that Ayr can continue to play to the strengths of the Englishman as he looks to replicate his 14-goal haul of last season.

He added: “It was a better performance - we looked like we were going to score goals.

“I’m delighted for Geo (George Oakley). It was a great ball into the box from Jay Henderson.

George Oakley levelled for Ayr against his former club (Image: Alex Craig) “But I think we need to start working to his strengths.

“When we get the ball into the box - he scores goals and that’s what we’re needing.”

Following the 1-1 draw in front of the BBC Scotland TV cameras in Greenock, Ayr remain in third position in the Scottish Championship, a point behind Livingston and seen back from Falkirk having played a game more than both.

Next up in the league is a home match against Queen's Park on Saturday, November 16; kick off is at 3pm.

But before that is a trip to East Kilbride for the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup; kick off on Tuesday night is 7.40pm.