Brechin gave their fans the Christmas present they wanted when they beat Stranraer to climb above them and away from bottom spot in League One.
Darren Dods kicked every ball from the dugout as his men battled to three vital points and was a happy man at the final whistle.
Dods said: “That was a great result, especially coming at home. It was a great strike for the first goal from Dene Shields. He has that in his locker, but has had a few injury problems.
“It was a great strike by Isaac Layne as well and the icing on the cake would have been if Isaac had scored his penalty, but the keeper made a good save.
“Penalties have been our achilles heel this season. I think we have missed five and it has given me a few more grey hairs.
“Stranraer kicked on in the second half but their keeper made a great save to stop Andy Jackson making it three.
“All credit to Graeme Smith and our back four, but everyone did their job and we competed well in what was a must-win game.
“We have been in the situation twice before when we knew a win would take us off the bottom and this time we have done it.”
Ayr made all the early running, but Brechin took the lead with their first attack on 19 minutes. Shields turned inside the box and smashed a shot just inside the post.
Brechin made it 2-0 six minutes later. Layne made space on the edge of the box and fired an unsaveable shot inside the far post.
A minute from the break, Weatherston was brought down by a combination of two defenders. Layne took the spot-kick, but McGurn dived to his left to save.
On 57 minutes, Layne played in Jackson and his shot was brilliantly tipped behind by McGurn.
Kyle Turner hit the post for Stranraer on 63 minutes and Smith saved from Jamie Longworth and Turner, but Brechin held on for their first clean sheet since Halloween and their first home win since September 26.