It was certainly a scoreline that flattered Steve Jauncey and Martin Torr's visitors as the Aces were left to pay for a lapse in concentration thanks to three second-half goals from the opportunistic northerners.

Ayre weren't without some good chances, however, and should have taken the lead with just 40 seconds on the clock when player-manager Torr's first-time effort from six yards out clinked off the post as the hosts avoided an early scare.

Indeed, Torr's side enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening five minutes but the tide soon turned as Michael quickly began to shift through the gears and create a catalogue of chances.

Striker Jamie Moffat showed good control in the seventh minute but couldn't quite keep his powerful drive below the crossbar as Nick Hurt's side looked to further condemn the Tangerines.

However, an almost freak goal five minutes later nearly gave Ayre the lead when keeper Stuey Fayle saw his drop-kick fly down the other end of the pitch and almost deceive the backtracking Gary Burgess as the ball bounced off the bar.

Burgess was again in the middle of the action in the 25th minute when Ayre playmaker Joe Morgan chested the ball down excellently and drilled a low shot which was well saved by the Island international.

Nevertheless, it was Moffat who would have felt aggrieved not to give his side the advantage before the interval when he seemingly squandered some good chances after going clean through on goal before control and his final touch let him down.

Goalless at half-time, there was a sense in the air that it was only a matter of time before the residents took the lead as they went in search of their sixth win in 18 league outings.

Just four minutes into the restart it looked as though Hurt was finally going to break the deadlock after he got his head on to the end of Dean Wales's long throw-in only to see his effort bounce agonisingly wide of the far post.

A bad injury to Aces midfielder Johnny Holland delayed play for some time as the regular Team of the Week player was treated for a painful knock to his knee and the sting was temporarily taken from the game's tempo.

However, just a minute back into the action it was Ayre who took the lead against the run of play when Torr's laced shot produced a good diving save from Burgess but Phil Quayle was duly on hand to tap in to an empty net.

Michael regrouped and pressed on in search of an equaliser as the resilient northerners continued to answer the questions asked of them.

Fayle was quick off his line to deny Hurt in the 67th minute before the two were at the heart of the action again 10 minutes later when the westerner yet again nudged another great opportunity wide of the right-hand post as frustration began to show.

The visitors were always quick to counter-attack and almost put the game to bed when some super work by Tony Corlett down the touchline saw a good ball crossed to Jason Craine who couldn't quite get a hold of his effort.

A save of the highest quality from Burgess in the 83rd minute meant his side still had a fighting chance when he produced a remarkable piece of goalkeeping to deny Quayle his brace from four yards out with an unbelievable shot-stop.

The keeper's heroics obviously spurred his side on and they duly equalised after 84 minutes when Hurt showed excellent control from the edge of the area, created space for himself, and slammed a powerful drive into the back of the net which gave Fayle no chance.

However, Michael could well have been found guilty of taking their eye off the ball in the closing stages and they were dealt a crippling blow with one minute of normal time remaining.

Once again Torr burst through the middle and unleashed a good shot which was initially saved by Burgess only for Craine to follow up with a tap in to make it 2-1 to the Tangerines and put them within touching distance of a priceless three points.

The script was complete barely 60 seconds later when Michael's Richard Crowe saw his clearance ricochet off an Ayre player into the path of Torr who rounded the stranded Burgess to make it 3-1 and cap a thoroughly courageous effort by his side.

Michael United: Gary Burgess, Michael Perks, David Reynolds, Kieran Quinn, Raj Nandha, Johnny Holland (Chris Hancox 62 min), Richard Crowe, Nick Hurt, Jamie Moffat, Dean Wales, Kev Pulman. Subs not used: Michael Quine and Chris Blackburn

Ayre United: Stuey Fayle, Mark Teare, Stephen Parrish, Martin Radcliffe, Neil Brown, Matt Montgomery, Joe Morgan (Paul Kennish 90 min), Tony Corlett (Steve Jauncey 90 min), Martin Torr, Jason Craine, Phil Quayle (Chris Penswick 94 min)
Man of the match: Quayle (Ayre)

Referee: Alan Cowin
Booked: Perks (Michael) and Morgan (Ayre)
Match rating: 2*