Brechin City came away from Somerset Park with a hard-earned point as they continue their quest for a League One play-off place.
Ray McKinnon’s side were without four key players for the trip west but the valuable point ensures the Glebe Park outfit stay three ahead of fifth-placed Airdrieonians and five in front of Peterhead and Dunfermline.
City opened the scoring against the run of play nine minutes before the break when Andy Jackson bundled the ball home from close-range.
Ayr fought back in the second half with Brian Gilmour heading home the equaliser in the 49th minute.
They then grabbed the lead just five minutes later when Jon Paul McGovern converted from the penalty-spot after Nicky Devlin had been upended in the box by Craig Molloy.
City fought back, however, and they grabbed the equaliser after 74 minutes when a Paul McLean cross eluded everyone to end up in the back of the net.
City had to play the last nine minutes with 10 men after substitute Calum Tapping was ordered off by referee Andrew Dallas after receiving a second yellow card but they held on for a vital point.
Manager Ray McKinnon said: “We were decimated today as far as team selection was concerned with Alan Trouten, Bobby Barr, Colin Hamilton and Craig Storie all missing but I was delighted to go in at half-time 1-0 up.
“We didn’t play for the first 15 minutes or so of the second-half during which Ayr scored two goals and to be honest we rode our luck at that point as Ayr were the better side.
“However, we got right back in the game with Paul McLean’s equaliser.
“I was disappointed with the referee’s decision to send Calum Tapping off which made things very difficult but even then we might have just sneaked a winner at the death.
“However, that would have been a travesty on Ayr.
“This is always a tough place to come to and Ian McCall has got his team playing really well so I have to be happy with a point.”