Arbroath 0
Ayr United 3
League (Championship)

Match Report

A stunning first-half performance gave Ayr United a comfortable 3-0 victory over Arbroath to ensure they stay level on points at the top of the Scottish Championship.

Two goals from Alan Forrest and a Stephen Kelly strike made it six wins from seven for the Ayrshire side.

It also inflicted Arbroath's first home league defeat of the season.

Dick Campbell's side slumped to sixth place and have now gone three league games without a win.

Forrest opened the scoring following superb play from Luke McCowan to set him up, and a mistake in the home defence gifted the striker his sixth goal of the season from close range.

Michael Moffat set up Kelly for his fourth goal of the season as Arbroath were subsequently torn apart.

Forrest missed a second-half opportunity to grab his hat-trick, while Michael McKenna did get a rare shot on target for the home side.

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell: "There are no words that can describe how I feel after that. I demand 100% effort, but we were inept and second to every ball.

"We hardly had a shot on goal today and while Ayr were outstanding, I felt I could have played for my team today and I am 65 - that's how bad it was.

"We were not 'up for our work today' and the fruits of that will be shown next week when I make the team selection - I am very, very angry."

Ayr United caretaker manager Sandy Stewart: "Our football in the first-half was exceptional and we scored some great goals to put Arbroath under the cosh.

"Our players are playing with a smile on their face and long may that continue. The Chairman has asked me to take the team for the next four weeks which involves three games and that is all we have spoken about just now.

"The clubs has had loads of applications for the job and a month is a long time in football so my focus is just to do as well as we can over the next few games."

Match report written by BBC