A ruthless second half show in Fife saw Ayr United move within two points of the Championship summit tonight.
Goals from Jay Henderson and George Oakley edged The Honest Men within touching distance of the top as their tremendous run of form continued.
Scott Brown saw his side stretch their run in all competitions to one defeat in nine games as they went through the gears to record a fourth clean sheet on the bounce.
Brown had handed an immediate debut to Cole McKinnon, with the Rangers loanee replacing Jamie Murphy in midfield. Fellow window signing Lenny Agbaire was on the bench along with 16-year-old Kenzie Mitchell, who has just been signed by United’s under 18s following a spell with St Mirren.
And Ayr had to ride an early storm with the Pars flying from the traps. Harry Stone needed to produce a big save in the opening minutes to tip over from Chris Hamilton as the hosts piled forward.
Stone came up big again just moments later when he got down low to his right to deny Ewan Otoo from close range with Ayr firmly on the ropes in the early exchanges.
The Pars kept coming during the first half and Chris Kane should have done better with a header from a Kane Ritchie-Hosler cross which he sent over the top from just six yards.
Ayr couldn’t get a foothold in the contest at all and the nearest they came during the first half was a curling effort from Ben Dempsey which sailed wide.
But United did start the second half in brigher fashion and George Oakley had an effort hooked off the line after he met a knockdown from George Stanger just moments after the restart.
Ayr slowly grew in confidence and hit the front just after the hour mark when persistence in the box paid off. A teasing cross from Connor McLennan saw Oakley head off the bar and when the loose ball eventually found its way to Henderson, he showed a poacher’s instinct to fire home from point blank range.
United were suddenly flying and their game oozed confidence – summed up by a brilliant second goal. A counter attack down the right saw McLennan unleashed and he delivered a tremendous ball on a plate for Oakley who did the rest with a fine finish on the volley.
Ayr had an immediate scare when Pars sub Taylor Sutherland thought he’d halved the deficit but the assistant’s flag came to their aid, ensuring the two goal lead stayed intact.
Subs Mark McKenzie and Jake Hastie could have made it more comfortable near the end but dragged their efforts wide when well placed, although Ayr were able to see it out comfortably for the three points.