Ayr United  1 - 4  Airdrie United : Wednesday, 21st April 2010

Baird keeps Airdrie dream alive

A hat-trick from John Baird helped Airdrie keep their slim survival hopes alive with a 4-1 win over Ayr, whose own relegation fears are deepened on the back of a disappointing home defeat.

Airdrie knew that had to win and started strongly with Baird going close to opening the scoring when he was denied by a fine Craig Samson save.

Ayr also looked dangerous going forward with William Easton and Kevin James missing the target with close-range headers.

But Airdrie made the perfect start to the second half when Scott Gemmill put them ahead in the 47th minute, firing home from the edge of the penalty area.

And the visitors consolidated their superiority just after the hour mark when Baird converted Diarmuid O'Carroll's cross from close range.

Dean Keenan immediately restored hope for Ayr with a 25-yard piledriver, but Baird's second just two minutes later - a cool finish from 12 yards - made it three goals in a four-minute spell.

United put the game to bed in injury time when Baird netted a loose ball and they move within five points of safety with three games to play, while Ayr are three points adrift of third-from-bottom Morton.