Catastrophe for Kallum from the spot
A FURIOUSLY-CONTESTED East End Park encounter ended in high drama with Kallum Higginbotham missing two penalties for 10-man Dunfermline in the space of two minutes towards the end.
Both efforts by the Pars midfielder were saved superbly by Ayr goalkeeper Greg Fleming.
Dunfermline took the lead on the half-hour when Nicky Clark finished off Lewis Martin’s low cross.
Ayr equalised early in the second half via the first of the game’s three penalties, Alan Forrest driving home from the spot after Martin impeded Scott McKenna, resulting in a red card for the Dunfermline defender who had been booked earlier.
Dunfermline’s late penalty awards came when Paul McMullan was tripped by Scott McKenna, and Higginbotham was fouled by Paddy Boyle.
“The referee must have been the only person in the stadium to see the foul which led to Ayr’s penalty,” said a clearly-unhappy Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston.
St Mirren defender Jack Baird threw Falkirk a lifeline after he was sent off with his team 1-0 up.
The Buddies took the lead on 17 minutes when Lewis Morgan cracked a first-timer past keeper Danny Rogers from 15 yards.
After Baird was sent off, Miller netted two minutes into the second period as he latched onto Myles Hippolyte’s cutback.
Bairns boss Peter Houston brought on Bob McHugh with 15 minutes left and was rewarded when the sub scrambled home a scruffy second goal for Falkirk.
Hippolyte’s subsequent strike added a touch of gloss which slightly flattered the hosts.
Just past the half-hour, Dumbarton scored against hosts Queen of the South when Ryan Stevenson cracked in from 30 yards.
Three minutes before the break, they increased their lead when Garry Fleming slammed the ball home from the penalty spot after Jamie Hamill brought down Robert Thomson.
The Dumfries men pulled one back 10 minutes from time when substitute Derek Lyle chested home a cross from Dobbie but were unable to make any further inroads.