Hamilton Academical 0
Ayr United 2
League (Championship)

Match Report

TWO late goals sent Ayr United top of the Championship tonight as the Honest Men continued their fine form to hit the league summit.

Substitute Mark McKenzie climbed off the bench to nod home 10 minutes from time before George Stanger quickly added a clinching second at New Douglas Park.
The result sees Ayr move top of the table after Livingston's win over Falkirk last night and sets up a massive week at Somerset with United ready to welcome Hibernian in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Ayr had made two enforced changes from last week's win over Partick with Dylan Watret replacing the suspended Nick McAllister, while Lenny Agbaire came in for the injured Mikey Devlin.

And United missed an early chance to forge in front from the spot. Connor McLennan's cross was charged down by the hand of Stephen Hendrie, giving the chance to Jay Henderson to put Ayr ahead. But his spot kick was saved by Accies keeper Dean Lyness.

A low key first half saw very little in the way of chances and Accies' only real threat came through Kevin O'Hara, who spun in behind the Ayr defence to test Harry Stone with a low drive.

If Scott Brown wanted a response after the break, he didn't seem to get an immediate answer and turned to his bench to make a triple change before the clock hit the hour. Marco Rus, Cole McKinnon and McKenzie were sent on for Henderson, Jamie Murphy and Dylan Watret in a bid to inject more life into Ayr's display.
cKinnon fizzed an effort wide from 25 yards before Stone made a smart stop at the opposite end to deny Hendrie putting Accies in front.

That seemed to light a spark under Ayr for one final push and they got over the line with a late burst. Jake Hastie, another to be introduced from the bench, whipped in a great ball from the left for McKenzie to climb at the back post and send a header past Lyness and in off the bar.

That goal sent the Ayr support into raptures and they had barely found their breath before it was 2-0 when a McKinnon corner was touched on by George Oakley for Stanger to slam home from six yards and send United to the top of the league.

Match report written by Daily Record (Online)