Marco Rus magic not enough as Ayr United edged out by free kick stunner at Tannadice

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A moment of magic from Marco Rus wasn't enough for Ayr United as they left Tannadice empty handed tonight.The Honest Men put plenty into this Premier Sports Cup tie and Rus had deservedly cancelled out David Babunski's opener in fine style with his early second half leveller.

But a stunning free kick from sub Brandon Forbes won it for the hosts after an open contest on Tayside.Skipper Ben Dempsey returned from injury in Ayr's only change from the opening night win over Falkirk as Roy Syla dropped to the bench, and Scott Brown's men had an early escape when Babunski's wicked free kick took a glance off the head of Mark McKenzie and rebounded off the post to safety.But they failed to heed the warning and Babunski was able to hit the target with a similar delivery which sailed all the way into the top corner when Harry Stone was caught underneath the flight of the free kick.Ayr responded well and Anton Dowds headed wide from a cracking Dylan Watret cross before McKenzie and Dempsey were denied by Jack Walton after good play by Rus had fashioned the opening.

Then came a brilliant Ayr move from back to front which ended with Dempsey fizzing an effort just wide of the target.Kevin Holt almost doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but lifted an effort just over the top as Ayr crucially avoided what would have been a harsh punishment going into the break.And they started the second half well - with Rus providing a moment of genius to pull them level.

Great work from Dowds inside the Ayr half helped set the Romanian free down the left, and he weaved his way from the halfway line, beating a string of challenges before rolling home a fine finish.Rus and Ayr were riding the crest of a wave and he drove at the home defence