Mark McKenzie has told how victory over Killie set the stage for Ayr going top of the Championship.
United’s Mr Versatility climbed off the bench at Hamilton to head the vital opener that sent the Honest Men towards the top of the pile.
It came just days after McKenzie had anchored the midfield while skippering Ayr’s reserves to victory at Rugby Park.
Fellow Saturday sub Jake Hastie – who scored one and made another in the 3-2 win at Killie last Tuesday – crossed for McKenzie to break the deadlock against Accies.
And McKenzie reckons the value of that reserve clash paid dividends as Ayr bagged a huge three points at New Douglas Park.
He said: “We’re all behind each other – it’s a great group. Some of us who haven’t been playing got the chance to play through the week in the reserve game to make sure we were ready for occasions like this.
“The starting XI have been brilliant the last few weeks getting the job done. So it’s great for us to come off the bench and get the job done as well. It’s important for us to get minutes through the week so we’re ready for our chance.
“These games are intense and you never know when you’ll come on or how you can affect the game, so getting that sharpness through the week is very important.”
McKenzie, who has been at Somerset since an 11-year-old in the club’s Academy, has filled almost every role apart from goalkeeper during his time.
And he delivered another big moment when it mattered, soaring to head home Hastie’s cross with Saturday’s game drifting towards stalemate.
McKenzie said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game. We need the full squad and it was great that me and Hastie were able to combine.
“The subs came on and brought a bit of energy to get the first goal. The second goal made the last few minutes a bit easier. I knew I had to put it back from where it came and luckily it found the corner.
“Hastie put it in and I could see it the whole way. I was behind the defender and I could see I had the jump on him.
“I’ve been here a long time and had a lot of highs and lows during that time so it’s great to see the club doing so well at the moment. It’s great to be part of a team where everyone is pushing each other and even in training, the intensity is right up there and we take that into games. I think that’s why we’re up at the top of the league.”