Dunfermline leapfrogged Ayr into third place in the Scottish Championship after a 1-0 win away at Somerset Park.
Barney Stewart’s towering header ensured Pars boss Neil Lennon won the battle of the former Celtic captains against opposite number Scott Brown.
Ayr were inches from going ahead midway through the first half when Mark McKenzie’s shot came back off the inside of the post, the ball rolling agonisingly back across goal before it was hacked clear.
Moments later, Andrew Tod tucked the ball into the Ayr net from close range but he was flagged for offside.
Dunfermline’s winner arrived three minutes before half-time when Falkirk loanee Stewart soared above the Ayr defence and glanced in a superb header from Matty Todd’s cross.
