Mick puts Albion back in play-off mix
Darren Young insists Albion are back in the play-off mix after Mick Dunlop’s goal ended a run of eight games without a win.
The skipper powered home off the bar with 17 minutes left as third-placed Ayr suffered a fourth defeat in five games.
And it won’t have done anything to soothe Ian McCal l ’ s pain af ter the Somerset Park boss missed the clash with severe toothache.
Rovers are now three points off fourth- placed Stranraer with three games to go and player-boss Young said: “We have been through a sticky patch and haven’t had the breaks we deserved. But today we finally got our deserts.
“We knew we could come here and put on a performance. Hopefully, this win will give us a big lift.”
Rovers keeper Ross Stewart denied Ayr early on, using his feet to save a Craig Moore shot before pulling off a one-handed stop to keep out Mikey Donald’s angled drive. However, it was Ayr who had a lucky escape half an hour in when Alan Trouten booted Dunlop’s goalbound shot off the line.
Rovers’ Ross Davidson fired inches wide after a wel lworked free-kick on the edge of the box before Moore’s clever reverse pass sent Alan Forrest racing in at the other end.
Stewart, though, was quick off his line to deny the teenager with Forrest’s agony then compounded with a yellow for diving as Ayr claimed a penalty when he went down in the box.
Greg Fleming tipped away a f ierce effort from Scott McBride as the Cliftonhill side sensed their chance of an upset. But the Ayr keeper could do nothing when Dunlop turned to volley in off the bar.
United No. 2 John Henry said: “It was a stonewall penalty for a foul on Forrest – the game hinged on that.
“We passed the ball well in the first half but didn’t compete well enough in the second and that was disappointing.
“We have to fight better than that and have to perform for more than 45 minutes. Ian was in this morning and spoke to the players but had to go because he was unwell.”