David Hopkirk shot down claims that he will now be known as a super sub after scoring off the bench for the second game in a row.
His coolly-taken winner fired 10-man Dunfermline three points clear of their chief rivals, albeit with a game more played, and surely handed them a huge initiative in the race for the title.
However, the goal hero pledged that he won’t be badgering manager Allan Johnston for a regular start and is prepared to play a waiting game for his place.
Michael Moffat’s first goal against his home town Ayr since leaving them 18 months ago a header from a Michael Paton cross gave the Fifers the lead.
Gerry McLauchlan took only three minutes to equalise when he headed home a Brian Gilmour cross.
The game’s flashpoint came seven minutes after the interval when Dunfermline had Joe Cardle sent off for a clash with Peter Murphy, seconds after he had been booked for diving.
It looked a harsh call by referee Andrew Dallas but Ayr’s hopes of cashing in were killed when Hopkirk repeated his goal-off-the-bench against Brechin seven days earlier.
The former Annan man admitted: “It’s brilliant to score two in a row but I don’t want to be known as a superb sub.
“I have been scoring in the reserves and working hard to get into the team but I know I need to bide my time. I am not one for chapping on the manager’s door.
“I have got a bit of pace about me and it was a good through ball so I knew I had a lot of time.
“Ayr kept coming at us but we defended well. We are three points clear at the top of the league and are confident but we’ll take each game as it comes.
“Hopefully we can stay top but it’s a long season and we have still to play Ayr twice.”