Pars back to winning ways

Dunfermline got their promotion hopes back on track with their first win in five matches after a 2-1 victory at home to Ayr.The visitors held out for over an hour but a Nicky Devlin own goal and Andy Geggan's header ended their resistance before Robbie Crawford's late goal proved a mere consolation for Ayr.Ross Millen had the best chance of the first half when his free-kick from the edge of the box beat Ayr's defensive wall but rattled the crossbar.Ayr's Brian Gilmour hit the inside of the post early in the second half and David Hopkirk was also denied by the upright at the other end.Dunfermline finally took the lead in the 63rd minute when Hopkirk's shot went in off the helpless Devlin and their advantage was doubled 13 minutes later when Geggan headed in Hopkirk's corner from the right.Crawford squeezed the ball in from close range to give Ayr an 86th-minute lifeline but the hosts held on.