THE CHAMPIONSHIP

DUNFERMLINE had lost just once in 18 Championship fixtures going into yesterday’s game at East End Park, but this most untimely defeat has potentially dragged them back into the relegation dogfight.

With St Mirren’s revival continuing, the Pars are just five points ahead of the Paisley club, while second-bottom Ayr boosted their own prospects of survival after Ross Docherty’s scruffy second-half winner gave them only their second league victory since October.

Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston admitted: “We had a lot of good chances, but never worked the keeper enough. If we’d won that would have opened up a massive gap, but it’s very, very tight now.”

The early stages saw visiting keeper Greg Fleming on a one-man crusade to make life difficult for his team. He completely missed Nicky Devlin’s passback but his gaffe went unpunished, and he also got away with it when he rushed out of his

area, leaving an empty net which Joe Cardle failed to find.

Michael Moffat then rattled the post with a glancing header, but Dunfermline were otherwise timid when ruthless finishing was required. Cardle was particularly guilty, while Nicky Clark failed to rediscover the accuracy that produced four goals against Dumbarton earlier this month.

Moffat tested Fleming at the start of the second period, but Ayr created a chance when Farid El Alagui headed straight at keeper Sean Murdoch.

Brian Gilmour’s set-pieces were causing Dunfermline problems, and in the 48th minute his corner was scrambled over the line by Docherty.

That heralded a spell of furious home pressure in search of an instant equaliser, but United almost added to their lead through Mike Rose and Alan Forrest.

The Pars made changes and substitute David Hopkirk forced a fine late save from Fleming, while at the other end Ayr sub Craig McGuffie wasted a golden opportunity to make it 2-0.