Last updated on .From the section Scottish Championship

Alan Forrest scored twice for Ayr United

Ayr United continued their excellent start to the season with a commanding win against Dunfermline.

Alan Forrest put the Honest Men on course for the three points with a looping header, followed by another close range finish.

Ayr took a three-goal advantage into the break when Lawrence Shankland netted from eight yards.

Jackson Longridge's low shot pulled one back, but Michael Moffat's tap-in sealed the deal.

That Longridge strike was only the second goal Ayr have conceded in their opening nine competitive games this season, with defenders Michael Rose and Jamie Adams providing a largely watertight central pairing, as well as goalkeeper Ross Doohan.

When allied to the firepower of Shankland - who scored his 12th goal of the campaign - Michael Moffat and Alan Forrest, it leaves the Somerset Park side sitting pretty. Remember too, that the potency of Craig Moore is currently burning a hole on the bench, should United sell Shankland.

A one-sided first half made way for a much more dynamic display by the Pars after half-time, something you would expect given Dunfermline are expected to be in the promotion mix come May.

Post-match reaction

Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "We've played miles better than that. We didn't think the pitch needed watered today and it did. It was really sticky.

"But we still scored some good goals. Alan Forrest ran himself into the ground. The three centre back couldn't handle Lawrence Shankland - he was gutted because he only got one goal."

Dunfermline Athletic manager Allan Johnston: "It's a tough one to take. That's nowhere near good enough. It's not as if they cut us open with great passing, they just outworked us."