FALKIRK 2 Meggatt (og, 78), Miller (90+1) AYR UTD 0

FALKIRK extended their winning run to four in the league after a late Daryll Meggat own-goal and Lee Miller strike kept the Bairns in the play-off position.

Ayr began brightly in a first half of little action but Falkirk created the first chance after 15 minutes, Bob McHugh going close with a long-range drive.

The Bairns were finding it hard to control Harkins and they were almost made to pay after 28 minutes.

His wicked bouncing cross from the right caused mayhem in the Falkirk area, forcing Luca Gasparotto to head behind, narrowly missing his top corner.

Harkins continued to threaten in the second half and should have put the Honest Men into the lead after 55 minutes as his header from close range flashed over the bar.

Ayr continued to pepper Falkirk’s goal with chances, Brian Gilmour this time unable to score with only Rogers to beat after Devlin’s cutback, but he fired wide.

Falkirk made Ayr pay for their missed chances as they eventually opened the scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

Ayr defender Daryll Meggat attempted to clear Hippolyte’s long throw from the left but his header squirmed into the bottom right corner.

Substitute Lee Miller made sure of the points as he scored inside injury time to seal the Bairns fifth consecutive win in all competitions.

Falkirk manager, Peter Houston, said: “We were the luckiest team in the world today.

“In the first half, Ayr United were more mobile than us – we were slow, pedestrian and cheaply gave the ball away.

“It’s turned out a good weekend and we are clawing back after our poor start. Today’s result is more important than the performance, but on another day we could have been well beaten.”

Ayr United first team coach, Neil Scally, said: “Seeing 2-0, you are thinking Falkirk had a comfortable game but I think if you were here you would recognise that Ayr were the better team today.

“The performance was good but you are still wanting the results.”