GEORGE Oakley blasted a 25 minute hat trick as Ayr inflicted a nightmare start for Barry Robson at Raith.
United put in a dazzling first half display as they threatened to run riot at Somerset, continuing their recent run of form which now stretches to just one defeat in eight games.
Oakley led the charge with a perfect treble which all but killed the game before the half hour, which won huge praise from his boss.
Scott Brown said: “I was delighted for George. His overall performance was great and he does a lot of unselfish work for the team. You want your strikers to be on their toes and taking their chances and that’s exactly what he did. His new pair of boots paid off!
“He’s always had that willingness and desire to work for the team and got his reward. But it was also about the quality of delivery for him was great and the lads’ game management was brilliant. We could have had a couple more in that first half as well and I thought we dealt with them really well all day.”
Ayr made the most of results elsewhere as both Livingston and Partick lost, meaning the Honest Men move into second place just four points behind long time leaders Falkirk.
But Brown insists he’s paying no attention to what’s happening outside of Tryfield Place.
He said: “Other results were great for us but we don’t worry about anything else and our main concern is Ayr United. Our focus now moves to Dunfermline next week. They will have another new manager in place so that will be a challenge that we’ll have to be ready and switched on for.”
Brown had stuck with the same side which drew a blank against Morton last week but that rarely looked like repeating itself as they flew from the traps here. Ayr were bright from the off and Oakley headed just over from a Jamie Murphy cross in the opening seconds.
But he didn’t have to wait long to burst the net when the same duo combined again, with Murphy pulling back to find Oakley who had peeled off his marker to slot home a left foot finish from six yards.
Ayr were rampant in the early stages and Paddy Reading had a shot deflected wide for a corner – and from the resultant set piece Jay Henderson found the head of Oakley who guided home a header to double the lead.
It could have been many more from there as Ayr surged forward, with skipper Ben Dempsey drawing a great save from Kevin Dabrowski as the keeper flew at full stretch to tip over a 25 yard effort. Murphy then hit the post as Raith desperately clung on, but they couldn’t live with what was being thrown at them.
And it was deservedly 3-0 on 25 minutes when Oakley knocked home his hat trick after latching on to a Connor McLennan knock down to send Somerset into raptures.
Raith were booed off at the break and in truth the second half was about damage limitation for new Stark’s Park gaffer Robson, who managed to stem the tide with both sides limited to very little in the way of goalmouth action as United coasted home for the points.