TWO-goal Derek Holmes fired Airdrie into a play-off final with Dumbarton then insisted he can be their lucky charm.
The Queens ex - veteran striker – who has won five promotions – said: “I’ve done it with teams such as Carlisle and Bournemouth but it would be even sweeter if I could manage it with Airdrie, although we face two really tough matches against Dumbarton.
“I was pleased to get two goals but even more delighted that we won the tie and now have a chance of going up.”
The game exploded after 17 minutes when Jackson Longridge lunged into a tackle on Airdrie full-back Ricki Lamie.
Longridge was shown a straight red card and team-mate Mark Roberts a yellow.
Airdrie grabbed the lead nine minutes after the break. Jamie Bain fired in a shot, Kevin Cuthbert parried and Holmes stabbed home from eight yards.
Back came 10-man Ayr and Andy Geggan got on the end of an Eddie Malone free-kick to prod past Grant Adam.
But Airdrie blasted back in front 60 seconds later. Ryan Donnelly set up Holmes, who nudged home from two yards.
And they cemented their place in the final when anothewr ex-Queens player Willie McLaren fired home from 12 yards.
Ayr were reduced to nine men when Jonathan Tiffoney received a second yellow card for fouling Jamie Stevenson.