AYR United took a giant step towards the First Division play-off final last night with an emphatic victory away to Brechin.
Ayr threatened after only 45 seconds when Bryan Prunty had a shot saved by Brechin goalkeeper Craig Nelson.
And the Somerset Park men opened the scoring after only eight minutes when Chris Aitken went past two defenders and scored with a lovely
left-foot strike from the edge of the box.
Ayr continued to dominate and in 20 minutes Ryan Stevenson had a shot blocked by Nelson.
Brechin then threatened for the first time in 25 minutes when Rory McAllister had his shot on the turn deflected just wide.
Back came Ayr and Willie Easton was denied by Nelson after hesitancy in the home defence.
Ayr made it 2-0 in 36 minutes when Prunty was brought down by Barry Smith right on the edge of the box and Aitken made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Three minutes from half-time Aitken almost completed his hat-trick when his lob just missed the target. Ayr continued to dominate and in 52 minutes Stevenson set up Prunty and his chip was held by Nelson.
Shots continued to rain in on the Brechin goal and Dean Keenan and Aitken both fired just wide.
Brechin attempted to stage a late rally and substitute Kevin Byers fired just wide after a good run. In stoppage time Kenny Connolly missed a sitter for Ayr when he sliced the ball wide from 12 yards.
Brechin: Craig Nelson, Walker, Seeley, Barry Smith, Dyer, Nimmo (Darren Smith 86), Murie (King 31), Fusco, Canning, McAllister, Ettien (Byers 59). Subs Not Used: McCluskey. Booked: Ettien, McAllister.
Ayr: Grindlay, Dempsie, Walker, Martin Campbell, McGowan, Stevenson, Keenan, Aitken, Easton (Kenneth Connolly 83), Prunty (Gormley 73), Roberts. Subs Not Used: Henderson, Agnew, Mitchell. Booked: Prunty.
Attendance: 902
Referee: B Winter
The full article contains 321 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
