Crawford hails Nisbet as striker nets again to push Pars into play-off spots

IN-FORM Dunfermline made it four wins from their last five league games to climb into the Championship promotion play-off places and within two points of third-top Ayr. Prolific striker Kevin Nisbet — fresh from scoring four goals in Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing of Partick Thistle — netted midway through the second half at Somerset Park to take his tally for the season to 16 goals in all competitions. Pars boss Stevie Crawford said: ‘Kevin did excellent but he will be the first to admit that the delivery before the goal was excellent, as well. ‘It says a lot that we are delighted to come away from here because I have a lot of respect for Ayr. ‘It’s always pleasing when you get a clean sheet but that comes collectively and, as much as Kevin will get the headlines for scoring the goal and Greg Kiltie for the delivery, everyone played their part.’ Ayr hadn’t been in action for more than three weeks but they went close to taking the lead when Stephen Kelly sent a 25-yard free-kick fizzing narrowly wide. However, Dunfermline responded impressively and United goalkeeper Ross Doohan was on his toes to save a Nisbet header before the striker saw another effort blocked. After the break, the Pars were rewarded with the opening goal on 68 minutes. Substitute Josh Edwards picked up possession in midfield and made a surging run deep into the Ayr half before feeding Kiltie, whose cross was headed firmly into the net by Nisbet. Kiltie sent a header inches wide as the Pars went for a killer second goal but the Honest Men still had aspirations of their own and they might have been level when Mark McKenzie found space in the box. However, the striker sent his effort too close to Pars keeper Cammy Gill. Ayr boss Mark Kerr said: ‘We were really poor and never had any injection of pace.’