Falkirk 2 – 1 Ayr United

A late strike from Kai Kennedy earned Falkirk a dramatic 2-1 win over Ayr United to set up a Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness.

Somerset Park striker Dipo Akinyemi drove in his 21st goal of the season for Lee Bullen’s Championship side after 12 minutes before the home side went ahead, eventually and should have leveled in the 66th minute through Callumn Morrison’s penalty.

Ayr’s Chris Maguire hit the post with an 81st-minute penalty before Kennedy fired home minutes later to put John McGlynn’s League One side into the last four for the first time since 2015.

They reached the final that year before losing to Inverness, who were drawn in the semi-final minutes after the final whistle, with Celtic facing Rangers in the other game.

There were still queues trying to get onto the pitch when the game started, with Akinyemi making an early impression and, after Falkirk themselves began to threaten, firing the visitors into an early lead.

There was still plenty to do as the powerful striker made space for himself on the edge of the box after collecting Sam Ashford’s header, but he got around defender Coll Donaldson and drilled a shot under goalkeeper Brian Kinnear.

Flares came onto the field from the stands filled with Ayr fans, delaying the restart, but when the game resumed, Akinyemi then tested Kinnear with another drive, this time saved at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing. .

The former Welling player then missed an inviting Ashford cross from the left just yards from goal as the Bairns wobbled under pressure.

Falkirk returned to the game and in the 35th minute Donaldson headed over from a corner Max Kucheriavyi in the second attempt, then elicited more groans when he mis-kicked in front of the goal after the ball fell to him in the next corner.

The home side continued to play more assertively in the second half and Ayr had to work hard to repel some attacks.

McGlynn brought on Gary Oliver and Kennedy for Aidan Nesbitt and Matthew Wright around the hour mark and the Bairns were soon level.

Falkirk fans roared for referee Nick Walsh to award a penalty for handball on Frankie Musonda after a corner and Morrison curled the spot-kick past Aidan McAdams and into the corner of the net.

Ayr, shocked by their situation, immediately fought back and Kinnear saved from Akinyemi, Ashford and Akinyemi again as the broken cup tie continued quickly.

Walsh again pointed to the spot when Donaldson fell on Musonda in the box, but Maguire hit the post and then touched the ball again to be penalized.

Two minutes later Falkirk grabbed the victory when Kennedy’s long-distance drive took a deflection off the luckless Musonda and beat McAdams, who also had to make an injury-time save from Morrison to prevent a third.