Lyle and Dobbie destroy Ayr

QOS 4 LYLE (12, 53), DOBBIE (44), DYKES (74) AYR UTD 1 NISBET (61)

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH proved too hot a handful for Ayr United as twin strikers Derek Lyle and Stephen Dobbie made it a difficult day for their defenders with their trickery in the build-up.

Queens had pushed forward from the start and it was only a fine save by keeper Greg Fleming that prevented Andy Dowie giving Queens the breakthrough as he got his head to a cross from Lyndon Dykes.

But they did take the lead in 12 minutes when Derek Lyle seized on to a poor pass-back by a defender to turn the ball past the helpless keeper.

Ayr were slow to get into the game but they eventually retaliated only to be disappointed as, when they got the ball in the net with a cracking 20-yard drive by Ross Docherty, saw it was ruled out with one of his team-mates offside.

At the other end, Stephen Dobbie tripped past three defenders to set up Grant Anderson and it was only the feet of keeper Fleming that saw his shot was cleared off the line.

However, Dobbie got himself on the scoresheet two minutes before the break with a solo goal as he picked the ball up on the left and waltzed past one defender before cracking a 20-yard shot under the diving keeper.

Queens increased their lead just after the break when Lyle left keeper Fleming helpless with a 20-yard free kick.

Ayr seemed to keep their hopes alive when Kevin Nisbet cracked a shot home from the edge of the box on the hour mark but Queens responded with Dobbie sending Dykes clear to round the keeper and slip the ball home for their fourth.