Ayr gained the upper hand in the race for a First Division place as they eased to a 4-1 win at Forfar in the first leg of their play-off semi-final.
Ayr, who finished second in the Second Division, took the lead in the second minute, with Michael Moffat guiding the ball home from 12 yards.
It was all square after 10 minutes when an inswinging corner from the right from Iain Campbell was headed in at the near post Chris Templeman.
Forfar`s Graham Gibson slammed a shot against the post on the half hour, before the visitors snatched a second. Moffat`s cross was inadvertently turned past his own goalkeeper by Jamie Bishop.
Ayr almost made it 3-1 at the start of the second half but Martyn Campbell`s close-range header was parried to safety by Neil Duffy.
The third goal did arrive shortly afterwards when Alan Trouten`s pass allowed Ryan McCann to slot home and Trouten was denied a fourth by a stunning save by Duffy.
Andy Rodgers wrapped up a convincing victory with a fourth late on, coolly converting Stuart Bannigan`s cross from the left.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG