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AN Alan Forrest hat-trick eased Ayr United to victory against a Dumbarton side that gifted them three goals through horrendous errors.

The striker finished off the first after only three minutes and then cashed in on an awful mistake five minutes into the second half.

His third came from the penalty spot 11 minutes later as Sons, winless in eight games, floundered.

The Honest Men were on top from start to finish and fully deserved to make it only one defeat in seven games with a lively, all-action display to end the first quarter of the league season.

Their fun started on three minutes when Dumbarton were slack with possession in midfield and after keeper Alan Martin turned away Gary Harkins’ shot, Forrest put away the loose ball.

Sons responded with a Josh Todd effort which was deflected over, but further mistakes could have cost them more goals.

Ayr stole possession twice, but Brian Gilmour’s lob was just wide while Harkins’ bending shot was saved.

The start of the second half saw more promise from Sons, for whom Joe Thomson had a shot deflected wide after Sam Stanton’s effort was deflected away.

But then, from a free kick for the home side, Ayr broke upfield. A dreadful piece of indecision from Dumbarton resulted in Harkins robbing Martin and squaring for Forrest to put into the empty net.

On 61 minutes he had his hat-trick when Nicky Devlin, on his former home ground, was fouled by Daniel Harvie. Forrest stepped up to put away the penalty.

Stanton was close to pulling a goal back, but was unlucky to see his shot turned wide.

Ayr sub Kevin Nisbet missed two chances to add to the lead, the latter after Martin did well to come out and block at close range.

A final chance for a consolation goal fell to Sons’ Robert Thomson, but after meeting Craig Pettigrew’s cross, he headed over