With relegation and the relegation play off's threatening for most of the season, United had looked like an improvement in form could see them sneak into the promotion play offs. But a home draw against Cowdenbeath followed by two defeats by Raith at home 1-0 and Peterhead 4-1 last weekend saw promotion slip away.
Today's match at Hampden Park against relegation play off threatended Queen's Park was always going to be crucial until that 2-1 win for Airdrie United in midweek.
Queen's Park still have a bit of fight to be sure that they do not fall into that relegation slot and so Ayr wont find it easy today, but at least they know that should they slip up the consequences arent so dire.