QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 3
Holt (18), Murray (67), Oliver (74)
ayr united 1
Moffat (38)
Ayr United’s challenge to leaders Dundee United took a hard knock as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat against Queen of the South.
And downcast manager Mark Kerr said: “We had come here hoping to get some sort of result, so it really is disappointing to leave with nothing.
“We know it’s a tough place to visit but we hoped to knock up three wins in a row so it’s not good enough to get a result like that.”
Ayr started brightly and saw Queens enjoy a let-off in the opening minutes when the ball bobbed about in front of goal before Craig Moore finally steered it just past the post.
And it was Queens who broke the deadlock in 18 minutes when a run upfield ended with the ball falling for Kevin Holt who drilled it home from 15 yards.
This shocked the Somerset Park side and for a spell they looked disjointed as the home side pushed forward in a bid to increase their advantage.
Ayr put pressure on the Dumfries defence and keeper Robby Mccrorie twice had to pull his defenders out of difficulties with fine saves.
But the keeper had no chance six minutes before the break when Michael Moffat jumped highest to net a cross from Daniel Harvie. Queens retained the initiative after the interval but the Ayr defenders had closed ranks and the home forwards found it tricky to make any headway. However, in 67 Connor Murray put his side back in front when he slipped two defenders in the box and lobbed the ball beyond keeper Ross Doohan.
Ayr retaliated with Luke Mccowan unlucky not to put his side back on level terms with a shot which saw keeper Mccrorie dive across goal to turn round the post.