Ayr up to third as Mcdaid’s sneaky winner leaves Pars with mountain to climb

DUNFERMLINE

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Ayr United moved a significant step closer to sealing a Championship play-off place as Declan Mcdaid’s winner dampened Dunfermline’s hopes of a top-four finish.

The winger’s cross-cumshot in the 31st minute caught out goalkeeper Ryan Scully and was enough to end a fourgame winless run for Ian Mccall’s side.

The result now leaves the Fifers with a mountain to climb in their bid to finish among the promotion places.

Ayr, who climb above Inverness into third, now have the benefit of six of their final eight matches being played at home.

“We felt we should have been two, three, four-nothing up and if you don’t kill a team off then you’re going to have a nervous few minutes and we did,” said Ayr manager Ian Mccall. “Our first and second quarter of the season were Championship-winning form and the third quarter was relegation form.

“We’ve got to replicate the first two quarters in the last quarter and it’s a great way to start it with three points.”

The only goal arrived just after the half-hour mark. Mcdaid’s low inswinging cross from the right appeared to be intended for Lawrence Shankland, Scully anticipated a touch that never came and the ball crept in at the far post.

Ayr striker Shankland was also twice denied by Scully either side of the break before the hosts rallied at the end.

Danny Devine sliced a volley wide from inside the area before Louis Longridge’s close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Ross Doohan. Onloan Aberdeen striker Bruce Anderson also fired just over from 12 yards.

Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford said: “Collectively the first half was not good enough. It’s the worst it’s been since I took over.”