QUEEN’S PARK 1 Paton (63) AYR UNITED 2 Murphy (40), Mckenzie (73)

Former Celtic and Scotland captain Scott Brown’s time in charge of Ayr United got off to a winning start as his Honest Men defeated 10-man 2-1 Queen’s Park at Hampden.

Mark Mckenzie nodded in the winner following Sean Welsh’s dismissal seconds after Ruari Paton had cancelled out Jamie Murphy’s controversial openerforthevisitorstohave Brown saying: “It was good to see the players in action as that isthebestwaytolearnabout them.

“We want a side that is allenergy but winning after just two days of working with them is a good start.”

Ayr had the better of the opening exchanges with Calum Ferrieforcedtoholdanick Mcallister angled drive before stopping a long-distance effort from Anton Dowds.

Just after the half-hour mark Ferrie punched out a dangerous looking Jamie Murphy free-kick with Logan Chalmers coming close when he hooked the loose ball goalwards.

Ayr took the lead five minutes from the break after Welsh was judged to have fouled Mckenzie inches outside the box.

Murphy rubbed sent a low free-kick through the wall and into the right-hand side of Ferrie’s net.

The hosts came close to an equaliser on 53 minutes when Welshmetadomthomas cornerwithafirmheaderonly for Charlie Albinson to stick out a boot to save with Jack Turner volleying the loose ball incheswide.

Ten minutes later Queen’s equalised when Dom Thomas whipped in a delightful cross from the right and Paton met itwithathumpingheaderthat flashed high into the net.

Within a minute Welsh was ruled to have fouled Mckenzie in midfield and after being cautioned again he was dismissed.

Ayrtookadvantageoftheir numerical advantage to retake the lead on 73 minutes when Mckenzieheadedinafraser Bryden cross.

Substitute Aiden Mcgeady lobbed a great chance over, but Queens could not find a levellertoleave.

Head coach Callum Davidson said: “The sending off was a key moment. At the first booking their player slipped and fell into Sean.”