Austin powers up Bairns’ bid for the big time
FALKIRK maintained their promotion push and plunged Ayr deeper into relegation bother with this win.
However, the Bairns needed two last-ditch goals to finally make sure of the victory which keeps them six points behind leaders Hibs.
A Nathan Austin double put the visitors in charge before Gary Harkins ensured Ayr stayed in the contest.
But Falkirk were never going to concede an inch, and goals from Craig Sibbald and Fraser Aird at the death wrapped up a convincing win.
The Bairns have not been beaten this year and they seldom looked likely to surrender that proud record, although boss Peter Houston concedes catching league leaders Hibs will be difficult. He said: ‘We will take each game and hope that Hibs slip. I would much rather be in Hibs’ position than ours, but we will keep battling away.
‘Finishing second would mean two fewer games. Unfortunately, last year we were comprehensively beaten by Kilmarnock but we will learn from that.’
The large Bairns support was in full voice after only eight minutes when their team raced into the lead.
A quick break by Luke Leahy and John Baird ended with Austin having a strong shot beaten out by Greg Fleming.
When the loose ball spun free Austin was first to react to smash it high into the net.
Aird drove just wide as Falkirk chased a quick second in front of their noisy support.
Ayr were almost level when Craig Moore drove across the face of goal and Harkins was only inches away from connecting at the back post.
Robbie Crawford tried to ignite Ayr as he darted past a couple of challenges into the box, but the move ended with a Paddy Boyle shot which was blocked.
Ian McCall went for half-time surgery with Michael Rose replacing Brian Gilmour. And four minutes after the interval, Alan Forrest took the place of Moore.
However, Falkirk still looked far the likelier team and Austin showed great footwork in the box to send in a shot which was deflected past.
Ayr at last grew as an attacking force and Forrest whipped in an inviting cross from the right but somehow Farid El Alagui missed his connection.
Austin looked to have put the game beyond doubt in 63 minutes, forcing the ball home at the second attempt after his initial header had been smothered by Fleming.
But Ayr had an immediate riposte and within a minute pulled a goal back. Forrest’s darting run ended with a shot which Leahy scrambled off the line but Harkins followed up to smash the ball home.
Austin wasted a great chance for his hat-trick when he raced clear on goal, but Fleming rushed off his line to block, with Falkirk’s claims that he had been fouled falling on deaf ears.
Falkirk sub Lee Miller hit the post in the last minute before Sibbald broke clear to slide home the clinching third. Then Aird volleyed home the fourth.
Ayr manager McCall felt the two late goals put a false complexion on the result.
He said: ‘I pushed Conrad Balatoni up front for the last five minutes and it backfired. The poor thing is we have lost Declan McDaid with an ankle injury and ended up playing with 10 men.’