Even referee takes hit as United clinch play-off

DUNDEE UNITED claimed the point needed to secure a Ladbrokes Championship play-off place after a bruising 0-0 stalemate with Ayr United at Somerset Park.

Even the match referee, Crawford Allan, was not left unmarked, having to be replaced midway through the first half after a collision with Lewis Toshney.

But a draw was a fair enough outcome with both teams knowing they could not afford to lose.

For bottom club Ayr, the point means they finished the evening just three points away from St Mirren and Dumbarton.

Gary Harkins could have won it for Ayr in injury-time when his deflected free-kick hit the top of the crossbar but it would have been cruel on Dundee United who also had their chances.

Harkins also came close with a header which slipped past the post but, in truth, Cammy Bell was not overworked in the United goal.

Dunfermline all but secured their safety with a 2-0 win at Dumbarton with Rhys McCabe and David Hopkirk netting the goals late in the second half.

Conditions were not the best with a swirling wind causing both teams problems but Dunfermline took their chances when it mattered.

They won a string of corners in the first half but did not muster much to trouble Alan Martin, in the Dumbarton goal.

Indeed, it was Dumbarton who came closer to opening the scoring when Gregor Buchanan’s shot struck the inside of the post.

McCabe, who earlier had a goal disallowed, put Dunfermline in front with a low shot from the edge of the penalty box after 80 minutes.

Hopkirk added a second with a well-taken goal five minutes later to secure the points.

“The first half was really difficult and you could see that the wind was causing problems for both teams,” assessed manager Allan Johnston.

“But we came more into it in the second half and the wind started to die down.

“It was great for Rhys McCabe to open the scoring and it was a really good finish.

“He has that – we see it every day in training and it was good to see it in a game.”