Peterhead’s promotion hopes are all but over after being beaten 4-1 by Ayr United in last night’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg at Balmoor.
Leighton McIntosh cancelled out Mikey Donald’s opener for Ayr but Jordan Preston netted four minutes before half-time to ensure Ayr took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Preston enhanced Ayr’s advantage with a sublime goal before Robbie Crawford added a fourth to put the Honest Men in control for Saturday’s return leg at Somerset Park.
The Blue Toon had followed up a 19-match unbeaten league run with six successive defeats in all competitions after Saturday’s 1-0 reverse at League 1 champions Dunfermline.
Ayr had enjoyed an emphatic victory at Balmoor little more than a week ago and went into the play-off semi-final with far more reason for optimism.
Manager Ian McCall’s side took full advantage after Rory McAllister was sent off after only 11 minutes of that encounter by easing to a 4-0 triumph.
As a result of his red card, McAllister, Peterhead’s leading scorer with 31 goals, missed last night’s match through suspension, meaning McIntosh led the line for the home side. The visitors were roared on by a noisy travelling support but it was Peterhead who made the more lively start with Nicky Riley causing plenty of problems.
However it was Ayr who broke the deadlock, slightly against the run of play, in the 18th minute when Donald was afforded too much room on the edge of the area to move the ball on to his favoured left foot and drill a powerful effort beyond goalkeeper Graeme Smith.
There was a lucky escape for Peterhead soon after with Crawford’s long-range effort bouncing back off the post as Ayr pushed for a second.
The Blue Toon made the most of the let-off 10 minutes before the break when Riley played in McIntosh, who showed a classy touch to lift the ball over the advancing Greg Fleming and into the net. Ayr regained the initiative four minutes before the break when Preston rifled home a Ross Docherty free kick.
Former Elgin City player Shane Sutherland was denied before on-loan Rangers midfielder Ross McCrorie went close at the other end with a blistering drive.
But it was Ayr who grabbed the decisive next goal with Smith helpless to keep out Preston’s spectacular shot from 20 yards which flew into the top corner. It got worse for the Blue Toon in the 74th minute when Crawford slalomed through the home defence before slotting underneath Smith.