AYR UTD 2 Cairney (47), Forrest (69) MORTON 1 Forbes (86)

SECOND-HALF goals from Paul Cairney and Alan Forrest gave Ayr their first league win of the season and piled on the misery for struggling Morton.

The Greenock side don’t have their troubles to seek and their gloom was complete when Mark Russell was sent off for hauling back Kevin Nisbet.

Although Ross Forbes pulled back a late free-kick for the 10 men, Ayr comfortably held on to delight boss Ian McCall.

He said: “No one could say we didn’t deserve to win but it was a nervy last five minutes. “It’s a great win for us.” Both keepers had it easy in a drab first-half which never got going.

Gary Harkins displayed the best flash of skill for Ayr with a great turn and shot which flashed just wide of Andrew McNeil’s right hand post.

Morton has to replace the injured Rickie Lamie with Aiden Nesbitt after 20 minutes and the newcomer quickly tried his hand with a low shot that Greg Fleming saved confidently.

Gary Oliver should have given the visitors an interval lead when he was left free at the back post but the striker skied the ball over.

The deadlock was broken two minutes after the interval. Nicky Devlin drove to the byline, Harkins cut back his low ball and Cairney drove home from six yards.

Only a great tip over save from McNeill kept out a Forrest header after he met a Gilmour cross.

Forrest sealed it in 69 minutes when he knocked the ball home after Jamie Adams and Harkins combined.

Morton’s bad day got worse when Russell was shown a straight red for denying Nisbet after the youngster raced clear.

With four minutes left, Ross Forbes pulled back a consolation straight from a free-kick.

Morton boss Jim Duffy claimed: “We were well in control of the firsthalf but the goals just after the interval changed everything.

“However, I was delighted with the commitment and if we keep showing that desire we can get back on track.”