Three second half goals eased Stirling to a runaway win and boosted their hopes of catching third-top Morton with four games to go.
In a dismal first half at rain-lashed Somerset Park there were few chances of real note, although Stirling always looked the more dangerous side.
Stewart Devine had a 35-yard free-kick pushed round the post by home keeper John Hillcoat, who also produced good saves from Martin Glancy and Paul Hay.
Ayr never mustered a serious opening, and it was no surprise when they fell behind less than a minute after the interval. On-loan Kilmarnock striker Paul Di Giacomo fed the ball through to Glancy, who turned well before firing an eight-yard shot under the body of the diving Hillcoat.
Ayr hit back with a shot from substitute Richard Buckley which Myles Hogarth parried well.
Stirling were looking dangerous every time they ventured upfield and deservedly grabbed the second goal after 73 minutes. A corner on the left was only half cleared, and the ball fell to Devine 30 yards out who smashed home an unstoppable shot.
Stirling wrapped it up with a well-taken third goal seven minutes from time. Substitute Dougie Wilson fired the ball through the middle and Robert Dunn raced clear and rounded Hillcoat before slamming the ball home.
Delighted Stirling boss Allan Moore said: "It is a brilliant result which surely cements fourthh place for us and now we are hoping to catch Morton and finish third."
Ayr boss Robert Connor said: "We are falling a wee short of the standard needed, and there will be a lot of changes in the summer."