Ayr United got off to a perfect start when then ball found Allan Forrest in space at the back of the box and his strike just curled away from David Hutton and snuck inside the post.

However Arbroath’s heads didn’t go down and they kept fighting but neither side created many clear cut chances, but Ayr perhaps should have scored when he ball fell to Moffat inside the Arbroath box but he uncharacteristically fired the ball over the bar.

The Lichties were perhaps guilty of showing the hosts too much respect in the first half but in the second half they didn’t give Ayr anytime on the ball to think as he midfield battled and chased for everything.

The tempo of the match was slowly turning in Arbroath’s favour with Wallace and McIntosh continuing to flourish their striking partnership.

Ayr United Captain Chris Higgins was forced off with an ankle injury. The tall defender looked in clear discomfort and was stretchered off.

Blair Yule almost levelled when he connected to a ball at the back post but his effort skimmed the post as the home supported started to become unsettled as Arbroath began to dominate.

The goal did come and it was Ryan Wallace who netted his first Arbroath goal although a seconds hesitation by the referee in blowing his whistle did create a mini pause before Arbroath celebrated.

Thomas O’Brien was booked in the 78th minute for a foul on Lawrence Shankland. Only four minutes later the two players tangled as Shankland looked to be through on goal.

A second yellow card followed by the red was shown to O’Brien, but Dick Campbell said after the match it was the best red card he had seen in his managerial career! O’Brien definitely took one for the team with Shankland likely to have tested Hutton.

10 men Arbroath didn’t stop attacking and when Jordan Hart and his defender got tangled outside the 18 yard box Leighton McIntosh showed ice cool composure to curl the ball over Hart and into the empty net to send the Ayr fans to the exit gates.

Arbroath held on for the final few minutes for another fantastic away win at Somerset Park in another match where the team really came together for an outstanding united performance.