Ayr United 1-3 Airdrie Utd: Airdrie triumph as nine-man Ayr taste drop

Derek Holmes celebrates his goal.© SNS Group

Derek Holmes scored twice as Airdrie reached the First Division play-off final and relegated nine-man Ayr.

Holmes' second-half double and Willie McLaren's late strike secured a 3-1 victory on the day and on aggregate after Wednesday's goalless first leg.

Ayr got off to the worst possible start when midfielder Jackson Longridge was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Ricki Lamie after just 17 minutes.

The 10 men made it to half-time without conceding but fell behind eight minutes after the break when they failed to clear Jamie Stevenson's corner, Kevin Cuthbert parried a shot from Jamie Bain and Holmes slotted in the rebound.

Ayr grabbed a surprise leveller just after the hour mark when Andrew Geggan guided in Eddie Malone's free-kick.

But 60 seconds later Holmes tucked away a cross from Ryan Donnelly, and with five minutes left McLaren was left clean through on goal to seal the victory and a final clash with Dumbarton.

In stoppage time 10 men became nine when Jonathan Tiffoney collected his second yellow card to compound Ayr's misery.

People who read this story also read