Cup hero: I ran into ref so I'd avoid red card.

Byline: By GORDON WADDELL and EUAN McLEAN

AYR-RAISER Alex Williams last night thanked ref Steve Conroy for sparing him the red card that would have wrecked his moment of Scottish Cup glory.

The striker lost control as his 90th-minute leveller against bitter rivals Kilmarnock sealed a 2-2 fourth-round draw and sent Somerset Park into orbit.

But Williams revealed only throwing himself at the whistler stopped him earning separate yellow cards for taking off his shirt AND heading for the crowd.

His goal left Killie boss Jim Jefferies (below) gutted and the 25-year-old sub even gave Conroy a cheeky kiss after avoiding a red card.

He grinned: "I was lucky it wasn't a red. I lost it - I admit it. I'd been sitting on the bench, all cool, saying I was just going to stand there if I went on and scored.

"But as soon as it happened I headed for the crowd and off the park.

Then I ripped off my shirt which I knew was also an instant yellow.

"If I'd done both I was in serious trouble. So I ended up throwing myself at the ref and that saved me!"

Killie looked set to see off the Second Division side when they were awarded a secondhalf penalty after Craig Bryson made it 2-1.

But Allan Russell's spot-kick was saved by Stephen Grindlay and Williams then sent Somerset Park wild.

The goal hero said: "What a feeling. I've scored some big goals before, a winner against Celtic among them, but that felt so good.

"I thought I had blown it with a chance I missed just before. I thought I had let so many people down. But we have great spirit here."

Dundee also came close to springing a shock after an Artur Boruc blunder gifted the First Division side the lead at Parkhead.

But the Hoops bounced back to win 2-1 thanks to Scott Brown and returning hero Aiden McGeady.

The winger made his first appearance after a bust-up with Gordon Strachan and the Hoops boss praised his performance afterwards.

Strachan even blasted the rest of his side for not giving McGeady the ball enough.

He said: "Aiden did well. We asked him to give us width and when he stayed out there his performance was better.

"I was quite annoyed with the players because if we are asking Aiden to give us width then give him the ball.

"There were many times when they faced him then went somewhere else which isn't a good idea.

"There was no uncertainty about Aiden's future here. There were only people on the outside who were uncertain but I live on the inside.

"I don't think he has come back hungrier - he's still the same guy who wants to play all the time."

Dundee boss Jocky Scott praised his side and claimed they were unlucky not to snatch a replay after another Boruc mistake late on.

He said: "We stayed in it right to the death when their goalkeeper dropped the ball. Had he dropped it the other way it could have gone in."

All the other SPL sides in action yesterday sealed their place in the fifth-round draw.

Doubles from Graham Barrett and Scott Arfield helped Falkirk beat last season's finalists Queen of the South 4-2.

And struggling Inverness crushed Partick Thistle 3-0 with new boy Filipe Morais netting a double.

Goals from Aberdeen duo Lee Miller and Sone Aluko saw off Alloa 2-1 while Chris Swailes sealed a 1-0 win for Hamilton at Ross County.

CAPTION(S):

Alex appeal: Williams throws himself at ref Conroy to avoid a sending-off