Queen of the South 4 - 1 Ayr United: Comfortable victory lifts Queens off the bottom

QUEEN’S ended a four-game run without a win and came off the bottom of the table with an emphatic and stylish victory.

When the deadlock was broken in 31 minutes it was spectacular. Stephen McKenna curled the ball high into the net from 30 yards for his first goal at Palmerston since February 2010, coincidentally also against Ayr. United hadn’t looked a threat until seconds from the break, when Michael McGowan’s 18-yard low shot was pushed to his left by goalkeeper Lee Robinson and Gareth Wardlaw was first to react to knock the ball into the empty net.

Queen’s remained patient and sealed victory with two goals in two minutes.

Ayr’s Eddie Malone got a straight red card in 70 minutes for felling substitute Nicky Clark in the box and Scott McLaughlin scored from the spot. Two minutes later substitute Kevin Smith crossed from the right for Danny Carmichael to control the ball ten yards out and drill the ball into the net. Stephen Simmons added a fourth one minute from time with a low 19-yard shot.