Ayr United stay top of Championship as Josh Mullin double sees off Raith Rovers

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Josh Mullin's double kept Ayr United flying high at the top of the Championship as their fairytale run continued.A goal in each half from the on loan Livingston winger was enough for Ayr to see off the challenge of a Raith side who contibuted plenty to this contest without any reward.And it ensures United will be at the summit as they head to face former boss Ian McCall and his Partick Thistle side on December 17 in a mouthwatering fixture at Firhill.Boss Lee Bullen had handed a first ever league start to Finn Ecrepont against Rovers, with the youth academy product filling in at right back for Jordan Houston, who tweaked his hamstring in the cup win against Pollok.Mark McKenzie was given the nod up front alongside Dipo Akinyemi, while Mullin, Charlie Albinson and Andy Murdoch all returned after Monday night's victory.But Ayr endured a sluggish start and it was Rovers who controlled the first half, with Connor Riordan heading over a good chance.

The same man headed straight at Albinson from a corner in the 25th minute as Rovers continued to press without any reward for their dominance of the game.And they were duly caught out with a sucker punch as Ayr hit the front against the run of play.Logan Chalmers fashioned the chance for Mullin with a brilliant bit of skill and a cross which the on loan Livingston man converted at the backpost.Ayr started the second half on top and Chalmers thought he had won a penalty when tussling with Ross Millen.But ref Kevin Clancy sparked fury among home fans by awarding the foul against the Ayr winger.O'Riordan was proving Raith's main dangerman and the centre half pulled a good stop from Albinson at the other end as Rovers went in search of a leveller.However, they were struggling to live