Ayr United 1-3 Ross County: Champions make it 30 games unbeaten
Dundee’s slip-up on Tuesday meant the Dingwall men were already assured of promotion but for much of last night’s match second-bottom Ayr were at least their equal. The Ayr players had applauded County onto the Somerset Park pitch before quickly withdrawing the hand of friendship by creating a series of first-half chances, with County restricted during the opening skirmishes to a solitary Paul Lawson shot which flew over the bar from 25 yards.
However, the champions stepped up a gear after the break and took the lead within seconds of the restart when Michael Gardyne cashed in on a mistake by Chris Smith to beat Kevin Cuthbert. Ayr levelled through substitute Alan Trouten’s solo effort just after the hour mark. However, the Honest Men enjoyed parity for just a couple of minutes before Colin McMenamin headed home Lawson’s cross. County embellished their win in the dying minutes when substitutes Rocco Quinn and Sam Morrow combined for the latter to score.