Ayr United thrashed Cove Rangers 5-0 at Balmoral Stadium on Friday night to close the gap on leaders Queen's Park - who face Dundee on Saturday - to a single point.
Nick McAllister gave Lee Bullen's men a half-time lead, Ben Dempsey got the second goal then Josh Mullin weighed in with a double, either side of a stunning strike from Fraser Bryden.
The sides meet again in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Tuesday.
