Pars down Ayr after learning lessons

Dunfermline ended a long wait for a home win on Saturday to get back into the Championship play-off hunt.

Super sub Andy Ryan was the match winner for the Pars as they beat title contenders Ayr to record a first Championship win at East End Park for seven months.

The result lifts the Fife side into seventh place in the table, just two points behind fourth-placed Queen of the South.

Ryan was only introduced to the game on the hour mark but had the telling contribution as he rifled home after being sent through by Greg Kiltie with just six minutes left.

The marksman said: “It was important to win today. It shows we are learning. We conceded with 30 seconds to go against Morton, and this time we saw the victory out.

“It’s always good to score from a personal point of view but the main thing was the win.”

Greg Kiltie opened the scoring for the Pars just before the halfhour when he rounded the keeper and calmly placed the ball past a despairing Andy Geggan on the line.

The Pars could not hold the lead to the half-time break, though, as an Alan Forrest header was palmed away by Cammy Gill on to Lee Ashcroft and the ball trickled over the line.

Ayr took the lead 12 minutes after the restart, Forrest hitting a curling effort from over 20 yards that left Gill with no chance.

Stevie Crawford’s men drew level within five minutes, Ashcroft atoning for his earlier mishap with a thundering volley into the top corner.

That set the Fifers up for the grandstand finish, with Ryan sealing a welcome three points.