Dumbarton ran riot against an Ayr United side who were forced to play for almost an hour with just nine men after the double dismissal of Dougie Ramsay and influential skipper Ray Logan.
Although the numerical advantage undoubtedly assisted the Sons in their biggest goal tally for years, they were already well on top with Kevin Gaughan's header giving them an early lead and Ryan Borris hitting the bar from the edge of the box.
Ramsay was first to go when - as last man - he brought down Chris Boyle as he raced into the penalty area, but there was confusion followed by outrage among the visitors as a linesman drew referee Crawford Allan's attention to an unpunished challenge by Logan earlier in the move and he was shown his second yellow of the afternoon. After all this, Andy Rodgers calmly stroked home the spot-kick.
John Maisano had a great chance to get the nine men back into things shortly after the break, but he blazed over from six yards with only Stephen Grindlay to beat. His miss proved costly as substitute Jihn Dillon ran on to a long ball from midfield and slotted the ball past Mark McGeown.
Thereafter it was a question of how many the Sons would score. Rodgers hit the bar before rising above the defence to power home Iain Russell's cross, and Jamie Smith's back-post header found the net via a defender.
Seconds from time good work by Rodgers set up Russell to tap home from a couple of yards,