AYR United went three point clear at the top of the Second Division last night with a 1-0 win over East Fife at Bayview Stadium.
The visitors took the lead after 12 minutes when striker Bryan Prunty, the division's top scorer, chalked up his 15th goal of the season.
Ayr continued to threaten during the first half, while the home side struggled to get a shot on target. A sec
tion of the home fans turned on their team at the half-time whistle, with the Fifers crashing out of the play-off places after four straight defeats leaving them ten points adrift of fourth-placed Brechin City, having played a game more.
Earlier in the season, the Fifers had eased to a 3-0 home win over Ayr United. East Fife fought back in the second half and had a penalty claim turned down, but for the third match in a row Dave Baikie's side could not find the net, and Ayr ran out winners.
The league leaders now sit on 57 points with second-placed Raith Rovers on 54, with both teams having played 28 games.
East Fife: Brown, Muir, Smart, McDonald, Stanik, Stewart, Fotheringham (Fagan 77), Makel, Cameron (Templeman 77), McManus, Linn. Subs not used: Young, Nugent, McCulloch. Booked: Stewart, Fagan.
Ayr United: Grindlay, Dempsie, James, Walker, McGowan, Keenan, Stevenson, Aitken, Kenneth Connolly, Prunty (Williams 83), Roberts (Gormley 70). Subs not used: Borris, Agnew, Mitchell. Booked: Aitken, James.
Referee: S Finnie.
Attendance: 832
