GOALSCORER Michael Wardrope and midfield ace Ryan Stevenson are hoping Ayr United can secure promotion after sealing a playoff place following a hard-fought 2-1 win against derby rivals Stranraer.

And manager Ian McCall has saluted the team for reaching the playoffs with five games to spare.

Wardrope scored his first goal for the top team in the second half with his effort coming from around 35 yards.

He was delighted with his strike and the team's overall display and said: "I was pleased with the finish. Ryan Stevenson went in for a challenge on the goalie, the ball fell to men and hit it first time. It was a good result for us after losing to Forfar last week. The manager has given me my chance and I want to keep proving that I am good enough.., We are in a good positions and hopefully we can go up through the playoffs. That is what he team wants,"

Stevenson was also encouraged with the result and said: "We had been poor the last couple of weeks and we knew it would a hard game as Stranraer were the form team along with Peterhead so we knew it would be a difficult game but we deserved to win as we took our chances. We want to finish as high as we can, hopefully second. We have a tough game at Cowdenbeath on Saturday but we must look to win every game until the playoffs. We want to go up to the Championship although we will face some really hard games in the playoffs."

Stevenson, in his second spell at Somerset Park, is impressed with the young players at the club and said: "The bread and butter for Ayr it is to bring through players like Robbie Crawford, Alan Forest and Michae Wardrope. Michael did really well on Saturday and hopefully will feature for the rest of the season."

McCall is encouraged with his team's progress and said: "When you consider the position we were in last season to qualify for the playoffs with five games to spare is a really good achievement. and we will step up out training,, Now hopefully we can finish the league campaign strongly.

Meanwhile United have been given a huge boost ahead of the clash with Cowdenbeath.

Skipper Nicky Devlin and Ross Docherty return from suspension. Ross McCorie should return from injury, Paddy Boyle and Brian Gilmour are recovering from knocks but will be assessed later in the week.

Loking ahead McCall said: "We must look to go to Peterhead and win."