Airdrie 2 Ayr 3: Dowds hat-trick sinks Diamonds in error strewn display

Airdrie were architechts of their own downfall as an Anton Dowds hat-trick for Ayr saw the visitors leapfrog the Diamonds in the Championship table.

The Honest Men pounced on mistakes from Cammy Ballantyne, Craig Watson and Josh Rae, respectively, at New Broomfield and Dowds was the beneficiary on each occasion.

Airdrie had levelled midway through the first half with a fine team goal that was finished off by Ballantyne and Craig Watson pulled one back late on, but Scott Brown's side left North Lanarkshire with all three points.

The defeat ended Airdrie's five-game unbeaten run in the Championship and sees them slip to sixth in the table, five points off the play-off spots.

It also inflicted their first league loss since December - when Ayr won 1-0 at Somerset Park.

Rhys McCabe made two changes from last week’s Scottish Cup exit to Hearts. Player/assistant boss Callum Fordyce missed out with a hip issue and Aaron Lyall dropped to the bench, with Cammy Ballantyne and Chris Donnell coming into the side.

After the teams observed a minute's silence in memory of club legend Ian McMillian who passed away yesterday, the Diamonds got off to a nightmare start, as they fell behind after eight minutes.

Ballantyne got caught in possession near the halfway line, allowing Murphy to send Dowds through on goal and he made no mistake, slotting the ball beyond the outrushing Josh Rae on the egde of the box.

In 14 minutes good work down the left created space for Lewis McGregor to cross and when his delivery picked out Ballantyne at the back post, the defender caught the ball sweetly on the volley, but it flew just over the top.

The hosts did pull level in 25 minutes in fine fashion. A cracking cross-field ball from Adam Frizzell picked out