Ayr one foot in the Final following annihilation of Forfar: Forfar Athletic 1-4 Ayr United

Ayr United go closer to regaining First Division status after beating fellow Promotion Hunters Forfar Athletic at Station Park.

Forfar Athletic 1-4 Ayr United

After 3 victories over the Honest Men in the League campaign, Forfar welcomed Ayr to Station Park for the Irn-Bru Division One Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg match. Ayr went into the game on the back of a 1-0 defeat to Brechin City, although United fielded a weakened side. Ayr welcomed back Eddie Malone and Martyn Campbell at the heart of the defence.The Honest Men also gave starts to Ryan McCann, Jonathan Tiffoney and Mark Roberts, who where all rested against Brechin City.

McCann scored Ayr's Third.

Ayr opened the scoring after two minutes through Michael Moffat, but celebrations were short lived, as Forfar's Chris Templeman equalised within 10 minutes of going behind. But Brian Reid's men once again gained the advantage when Michael Moffat enforced some calamitous errors which lead to an own goal.

Rodgers Sealed the Game

Ayr opened the second half with a goal from Ryan McCann only 7 mins after the restart. Andy Rodgers also netted his 9th goal of the season and third in three games to seal the game in favour of the Honest Men, who take a three goal advantage back down to Somerset Park on Saturday.

The Other Irn-Bru Division One Play-Off Semi-Final was at Glebe Park between Brechin City and Cowdenbeath, a repeat of last years final, in which Cowdenbeath were victorious over the two legs, once again in that tie the First Leg remains a Stalemate as Brechin overcame a two goal deficit to bring the tie completely even again as Away Goals are not valid in the Play-Off's.

FORFAR ATHLETIC: Duffy, Ross, Bishop (O.G.- 35)(Sellars- 45), Bolochewckyj, I. Campbell (Mowat- 80), McCulloch, Fotheringham, R. Campbell (Deasley- 70), Hilson, Templeman (10), Gibson
Unused Subs: Dobbie, Tulloch
Manager: Dick Campbell

AYR UNITED: Martin, Lauchlan, Smith, Malone, Campbell, Trouten, Tiffoney (Bannigan- 55), McLaughlin, McCann (52), Moffat (2), Roberts (Rodgers- 76)(87)
Unused Subs: Crawford [GK], Robertson, Easton
Manager: Brian Reid

Attendance: 924
Referee: John McKendrick