Referee Scott MacDonald stunned the majority inside the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium by pointing to the spot on 94 minutes after ICT skipper Grant Munro was judged to have been impeded by Martyn Campbell in the box.

Just as he did four weeks ago when Partick Thistle came north, Adam Rooney kept his cool to slot home the penalty to give Terry Butcher's team a crucial point.

There are fears, however, that this draw all but ends their slim title chances.

Leaders Dundee have now played just one game more than Caley Thistle, but hold a nine-point lead with a dozen games to go.

Caley Thistle do have the chance though to use their one match in hand on Tuesday night when they go to Greenock to tackle Morton.

A win is a must ahead of their trip to Dens this weekend to challenge Dundee.

Victories against Morton and then the table-toppers would keep their title bid alive and kicking.

On Saturday, sloppy defending from the Highlanders left them always chasing the game against an ever-improving side battling to escape the drop.

Ayr captain Andy Aitken cashed in on hesitance at the back to shoot the visitors ahead on 24 minutes.

Matters worsened for Inverness CT just five minutes later when Mark Roberts shot from the edge of the box beat keeper Ryan Esson and floated into the net, assisted much by the wind.

The hosts grabbed a vital lifeline just before the break when Richie Foran knocked home a cross from full-back Ross Tokely.

Adam Rooney rescues a point for ICT with this last gasp penalty. Ken Macpherson

A fiercely determined Caley Thistle side emerged from the traps after the interval and created chance after chance and finally got their reward on 61 minutes.

Jonny Hayes, one of Butcher's best signings for the club, attacked from the right flank and delivered a terrific 22-yard finish to raise home hopes at 2-2.

Despite constant pressure from ICT, it was Ayr who edged ahead again on 71 minutes when Tam McManus moved quicker than his defensive opponents and finished neatly past Esson from 10 yards.

Time was against the title-chasers and Nauris Bulvitis saw his header cleared off the line as they pressed frantically.

Campbell's slight nudge on Munro sparked fury from the visitors, but Rooney finished his spot-kick to take his tally to 15 for the season.

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Golabek, Munro, Bulvitis (Cox), Foran, Hayes, Proctor, Duncan, Rooney, Sanchez (Odhiambo).

Ayr United: Grindlay, Easton (Woodburn), Aitken, Campbell, Keenan, Bowey, Mitchell, Mendez (Connelly), McGowan, Roberts (McKay), McManus.

Referee: Scott MacDonald.

Attendance: 2843.

sports@highland-news.co.uk

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