Ayr United 3, Dunfermline Athletic 1.

There was no fun at the seaside for Dunfermline who dived to the bottom of the table.

There were ripples of hope for the Pars after pulling the fixture back to 2-1 however a defensive mix up mid way through the second half meant they were swimming against the tide to get anything from the match.

Peter Grant had brought in Owain Fon Williams in place of out of form Mehmet who dropped to the bench with Comrie, Jones and Graham returning to the starting line up in place of MacDonald, Kennedy and Gaspuitus.

After having to forfeit their cup tie last week because of Covid, international call ups and injuries, Dunfermline were looking to get their first league win of the season after a sore 3-0 loss at the hands of Arbroath the previous week.

It wasn’t a good start from Athletic despite Dow managing to win a corner within the opening seconds.

The very early promise dissolved within a minute and Ayr found themselves a goal ahead. The dangerous looking Daire O’Connor eased up the left and got the ball to Adeloye who was able to place the ball past Fon Williams.

Dunfermline had a chance just on the 15 minute mark when the ball was swung into Todorov however his close range header was collected by Ayr’s Charlie Albison.

Todorov looked dangerous again soon after and ended up on the deck but his claims for a penalty were waved away by ref Barry Cook.

Comrie had a half chance for the Pars when he tried to get onto the end of an Edwards cross however he couldn’t quite connect while in mid-air and the ball went out.

Ayr were back on the attack with O’Connor causing more problems and doubled their lead on 24 minutes when a cross reached Salkeld who headed into the net.

Todorov pulled one back for Dunfermline minutes later. Great work from Dow saw the ball get to Todorov in the box and he hit the ball in from close range.

Dorrans could have grabbed an equaliser a minute later but his long range effort went just over.

A Todorov shot from just outside the box came close just before the half time whistle but whistled just over.

The second half didn’t bring much more sunshine for the Pars. Ayr had a chance soon after the break however a McAllister shot from a corner went wide They added another to their tally on 63 minutes when a mix up in the box saw Graham lose possession which resulted in Adeloye easing the ball past Fon Williams.

Substitute Kennedy did bring some hope for the Pars. After being brought down on the edge of the box, he took charge of the resulting free kick but his curled effort was collected by the Ayr keeper.

O’Hara ran onto a Todorov flick on 74 minutes but his effort deflected for a corner. The set piece came out to Dorrans but his long range effort went over.

With just minutes to go, Dunfermline won a free kick outside the box. Kennedy stepped up to take it it but his shot was tipped round the post by the keeper.

Ayr could have made it four in the 93rd minute when former Par Moffat got onto the end of the ball but shot over after sustained pressure from the home side in the box.

Dunfermline Athletic Fon Williams, Comrie, Edwards, Graham, O’Hara, Todorov, Dow (Kennedy 62), Pybus, Dorrans, Jones (Wighton 71), Watson.

Subs: Mehmet, MacDonald, Gaspuitis, Allan, Thomas.

Goals: Todorov (27)

Ayr United

Albison, McGinty, Reading, Maxwell, Bradley (Moffat 73), Adeloye, McAllister (Fjortoft 59), Baird, Murdoch, O’Connor, Salkeld (McKenzie 85).

Subs: McAdams, Chalmers, Ecrepont.

Goals: Adeloye (1, 63), Salkeld (24)