McCall floating on Ayr after a week to savour
AYR UNITED manager Ian McCall was delighted to end a productive week with three wins and a three-point lead at the Championship summit.
Craig Moore’s second-half strike was enough to secure the spoils in a tough contest against basement side Falkirk.
The win follows victories over Partick Thistle and Alloa as the Honest Men strengthened their position at the top after Ross County dropped points yesterday.
McCall said: ‘We’ve won three battles. Teams have sat in but we’ve not lost a goal, scored five and got nine points.
‘It was a grind against Falkirk and it wasn’t a good game of football, the pitch wasn’t great and it needs relaid.’
A subdued first period gave way to a far more enjoyable second half as both teams upped the tempo. Falkirk midfielder Andy Irving flashed a shot just wide from a Prince Buaben lay-off on the edge of the box after a Bairns counter-attack four minutes after the restart.
And just two minutes later the visitors stormed ahead when Moore planted a shot beyond goalkeeper David Mitchell from the edge of the box.
Falkirk tried to hit back as Zak Rudden headed a Deimantas Petravicius cross wide before Jordan McGhee’s effort landed on top of the net.
Falkirk boss Ray McKinnon, whose side drew 1-1 with then leaders Ross County on Tuesday, said: ‘There was nothing in it. We’ve played the league leaders twice in four days and to take just one point, with the performances we’ve put in, is unfortunate.’