The lack of a striking force, which has been apparent for some time at Stair Park, led to Stranraer's downfall against near neighbours Ayr who, despite their win, could be classed as a fairly ordinary side.
There were few chances going in a first half played in bitterly cold conditions, but the openings were evenly divided and the goal each at half-time was a fair reflection of play.
Stranraer went ahead when, after 30 minutes, skipper Allan Jenkins grabbed his third goal in three matches by running on to a cute pass from Gary McPhee and hitting a low 20-yard shot just inside the keeper's right-hand post.
But if the home side had opened with a good goal, Ayr replied after 41 minutes with a spectacular equaliser. Stranraer's Graham Guy conceded a free-kick almost on the 18-yard line and Ayr's Scott McCulloch rifled a stinging shot high inside the far post.
And in the second half, despite a few promising moves by the home side in the early stages, it was United who struck again after 77 minutes when the Stranraer defence got into a messy tangle. From the mix-up in the home box, Gareth Wardlaw recovered first to chase the loose ball and whip it home from an awkward angle.
Twelve minutes later another home defensive blunder sealed Stranraer's fate. Fraser Wright let Andrew Reid away in the box, and Derek Wingate could only bring him down while attempting to stop him. It was all in vain as William Lyle made no mistake with the clear-cut penalty.
This match finished with a spate of bad temper and some yellow cards, not unexpectedly because slack refereeing in the early stages allowed it to get out of control. Sinners for Stranraer were Wright and Wingate, and Ayr's Darren Henderson and Lyle were also yellow carded.