Ladbrokes League One
AYR UNITED 4
STENHOUSEMUIR 1
by Hugh Maxwell and Calum Campbell
AYR United returned to winning ways, running out 4-1 winners at home to Stenhousemuir and even the torrential rain couldn’t take the smile off manager Ian McCall’s face. 
With some key players rested and on the bench he could take this as a job well done but also couldn’t hide his admiration for the quality of Ryan Stevenson’s 84th minute goal which had the whole crowd on its feet.
He said: “It was as if he was just jogging forward with the ball and he thought ‘what am I going to do with this?’ and he just went ‘I’ll just stick it in the top corner from 30 yards."
With the incessantly pounding down the game started off at a terrific pace. Ayr were quickly on the front foot and in three minutes created their first chance of the game. Alan Trouten whipped in a corner from the right hand side and Nicky Devlin flicked the ball on before it fell to Craig Moore from five yards out but he couldn't connect properly with the ball and keeper Barclay saved his tame effort. Stenhousemuir immediately responded and created a good chance two minutes later. Alan Cook curled in a free-kick from the left and it landed to the head of Euan Murray whose flick header at the near post went just wide of the right hand post. Jamie Barclay was again called into action in the 20th minute when Paddy Boyle hit a free-kick from 20 yards out and the Stenny keeper did well to tip it over the bar.
Ayr immediately responded but Jamie Adams’ effort on goal was easily saved. 
With 35 minutes gone an Alam Trouten corner-kick was cleared away only for United's left back Paddy Boyle to hit a powerful strike from 20 yards which looked goalbound but it was palmed away from Barclay who was doing well to keep Ayr out. Stenhousemuir started the stronger team in the second half and were handed a glorious chance after 50 minutes. Mark Gilhaney played a quick one-two on the edge of the box with striker Jason Scotland and found himself one-on-one with Greg Fleming but his shot was smothered by the Ayr keeper. From the resultant corner the visitors again went close when Euan Murray got his head to the ball but his effort was blocked on the line by team-mate, Jason Scotland. 
Ayr grew into the second half and made the breakthrough in 65 minutes. 
Ryan Stevenson whipped in a free-ick om the left which evaded everyone in the box, catching out keeper Jamie Barclay who failed to collect the ball properly and Moore pounced to smash the ball into the roof of the net from close range and give Ayr the lead. 
Steeny were quick to respond to this setback and three minute later a Scotland free-kick from 20 yards  was well saved by Fleming. This was only to be temporary relief for Ayr as from the resultant corner the visitors found themselves level when Jamie McCormack glanced a free header from 10 yards past Fleming to get his team back into the game.
Ayr almost took the lead again immediately after the restart with Devlin causing Stenhousemuir problems down the right and his powerful low cross was g met by Craig Moore, whose shot came back off the post and into Barclay's hands.
The game quickly turned in Ayr’s favour minutes later when Alan Cook was sent off for a second booking after taking out Nicky Devlin with a late challenge, leaving his teammates with an uphill task for the remaining 20 minutes. Ayr took full advantage of the extra man and got their second of the night on the 76th minute. Trouten collected the ball in the centre of the park, slid Alan Forrest through into the box and he laid it off to Nicky Devlin whose fizzing low cross was sliced into his own net by defender Euan Murray. 
Then came the moment of magic from Ryan Stevenson. Stevenson collected the ball in his own half and was given a free run through middle by the Stenhousemuir defence who were reluctant to come out and from 30 yards he steadied himself before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the top corner, giving Barclay no chance and Ayr were 3-1 up. 
The Honest Men rounded off a great night with a goal from Alan Trouten in added time. After build-up play which included 18 passes before Trouten combined well with Moore at the edge of the box then coolly finished from 12 yards.
The victory draws Ayr level on points in second place with Peterhead, with the Blue Toon leading on goal difference. Ayr will now host league leaders Dunfermline on Saturday.
AYR UNITED: Fleming; Devlin, Boyle, Murphy, Graham, Stevenson, McCrorie, Docherty, Moore, Trouten, Adams Substitutes Preston, Wardrope, McLaughlin, Donald, Gilmour, Forrest, Newman (gk).
 STARMAN:
Andy Graham 3
Alan Trouten 2
Greg Fleming 1.