We always seem to come undone against lower league sides and had tried our best to do just tat against East Stirlingshire in the previous round. We made heavy weather of this one too, but made our way into the last 16.
There was a rare start for Tom Brighton but it was another shaven headed striker who put is in front. Our initial corner wasn't cleared, David Barron popped it back into the mix and Michael Higdon headed home his first goal since signing from Falkirk.
Things didn't get much easier after that as Paul Gallacher had to make a few saves before the break. After it we seemed to step things up, Higdon going close to a second and Steven Thomson hitting the bar.
In the closing moments, Ayr had Deen Keenan sent off for a foul on Billy Mehmet and in stoppage time the striker sealed our place in the last 16 when he converted Stephen O'Donnell's pass.
Maybe not as convincing as we'd have liked, but it didn't matter - we were through to the third round and another trip to Ayrshire to face Kilmarnock.