Ayr United bounced back from their Trust Trophy shocker to get back on Championship track today.
The Honest Men produced a much improved display as they saw off Queen’s Park at Somerset Park.
Jay Henderson, Mark McKenzie and George Oakley were all on target as Ayr cruised to a 3-0 lead before a late scare from the Spiders who scored twice within a minute to send pulses racing.
But Ayr saw it out for a vital three points as they enjoyed a welcome return to form, with boss Scott Brown hailing the response from his side in the wake of their East Kilbride flop.
He said: “I thought we were very, very good and controlled the game for the most part. We changed the shape today and had a calmness and a quality on the ball.
“Mikey Devlin came in for us and was brilliant. He’s vocal and a big personality. That’s exactly what we need in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“It’s always important when you start well and we managed to do that today. I could go through the whole team and praise people, I thought the workrate was fantastic from everyone.”
Brown switched to a back three following United’s poor run of form and Devlin was outstanding from the off as Ayr made a bright start with their new look, enjoying much of the pressure in the early stages.
But it was the visitors who fashioned the first real chance when skipper Dom Thomas drew a top save from ex-Spider Liam Russell.
However, it was Ayr was looked the more likely in front of goal as the first half progressed and Oakley had a header deflected wide as they probed.
They hit the front soon after when the same man drew a shove in the back from Spiders defender Cammy Kerr in the box.
Ref Calum Scott pointed to the spot and Henderson sent Calum Ferrie the wrong way. United soon doubled their lead when Marco Rus released Mark McKenzie and he fired low beneath Ferrie.
Thomas rattled the post with a free-kick just before half time for the Spiders but their bursts were few and far between and Ayr continued to look the more likely after the break with Oakley heading just wide on the hour as they tried to kill the game.
And they looked over the line when the big number nine knocked home a free-kick from Henderson to make it 3-0 with just 14 minutes remaining.
But Queen’s sparked a nervous ending when sub Anthony Hinds rattled a shot into the top corner with nine minutes left. And they incredibly sparked a grandstand finish when Jack Turner’s shot was deflected past Russell just 60 seconds later.
Queen’s sub Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia was given his marching orders for a second yellow deep in stoppage time as Ayr saw it out.