Ayr closed the gap on the top two as goals in each half from Mark Roberts and Daniel McKay secured a 2-0 home win over bottom club Dumbarton.
Roberts opened the scoring for third-placed Ayr in the 11th minute when he thumped home a penalty after Dumbarton defender Alan Cook had fouled home striker Ryan McCann in the box.
The visitors created several chances and almost equalised when Patrick Walker's shot from inside the penalty area was turned away at full stretch by Ayr goalkeer David Crawford early in the second half.
But Ayr doubled their advantage in the 78th minute when midfielder McKay latched onto Crawford's long clearance and tucked away his third goal of the season.
The win saw Ayr close to within a point of second-placed Brechin, whose game at Forfar was postponed, while Dumbarton remain without a league win this season.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG