JIM GOODWIN admitted Ayr United's last-minute equaliser last Saturday was a sickener for his side as they had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Wasps side came from behind to lead going into the closing stages, but Ayr struck late on to snatch a point from a thrilling encounter at Somerset Park.

But despite the disappointment of missing out on three valuable points, the manager reckons it was a great game for the neutral spectator.

Goodwin told Advertiser Sport: "I thought it was a great game of football. It must have been brilliant for the neutral to watch because it was two teams going head to head and having a go.

"I felt when we went 3-2 up at that late stage we were seeing it out pretty well. But to get hit with that sucker punch was a bit of a sickener.

"We weren't in the game in the first 15 minutes. We couldn't get to grips with their shape at all. But after that I thought we were the better team. There wasn't a great deal in it in the second half and it was almost tit-for-tat. But when you go 3-2 up late on you expect to see it out.

"We didn't defend poorly yet we are coming away having conceded three goals. If you score three you should be winning the game.

"But there's not one player who had a bad performance. Everyone was at it and over 90 minutes it was probably the best we've played this season."

The Wasps boss made his first start since January in place of the injured Andy Graham, and he admitted that his side are thin on the ground thanks to a combination of injury and illness.

He said: "I didn't envisage playing much this season but I registered as a player for this kind of situation.

"We have been like the walking wounded recently. We've got injuries to key players, boys have got viruses and we are just really low on numbers.

"Andy is a major concern," the gaffer added. "He's going to see a specialist about his shoulder and at this stage it looks like he could be out for four to six weeks.

"Thomas Grant has had a virus for the last three weeks, Ryan Hoggan has a broken toe, Declan McDonald has a groin strain and Jon Robertson had to come off with a thigh strain.

"But we have a good enough squad and good enough young players to come in if we need them."

After a tough start to the season, Goodwin reckons it's starting to click for the Wasps following some good performances, and the manager is pleased that his summer signings are starting to settle in.

He said: "We had a lot of changes in the summer and brought in seven or eight boys. The new lads have been excellent but it takes time for players to settle in, especially at a part-time team.

"We aren't training together every day of the week so it takes a while for things to gel. We've also been really unlucky with injuries, and that's made it really difficult for us to field a settled starting lineup.

"We have been forced into chopping and changing. But I'm pleased with the squad we have."