The game got off to a decent start, with Ayr United starting the brighter with a well set-up side, well organised and capable of moving forward at great pace. However, Stranraer were matching them early on and it was a good game.
Martin McBride nearly put Stranraer ahead early on with an audacious 40-yard chip which had keeper Grindlay sweating as the ball clipped the bar. On 20 minutes, Greg Tade ran forward and forced a good save from the keeper as the Blues kept mounting early sorties forward.
However, it was the visitors who went ahead when, on 32 minutes, good play from Chris Aitken saw him cut inside his marker and strike a low shot with purpose past Scott Black.
Worse was to come for Stranraer a few minutes later when Gregory Tade - who was having a tough afternoon after having one effort disallowed for handball and several "in-depth conversations" with the officials - was red-carded after picking up his second yellow for dissent, only 30 seconds after his first.
His team-mates were clearly disappointed with the Frenchman and the supporters were clearly vexed as well as he trudged towards an early bath. It was a decision that effectively killed off Stranraer's hopes for the game as most of the rest of the half was taken up with on-field re-organisations to cover for the dismissed man.
In the second half, Stranraer actually appeared the better team for stretches and were passing the ball around well and being industrious.
The Blues were unlucky to go two down just after the hour when Ryan Borris - who was having a decent game for Ayr - was fortunate to pounce on a rebounded shot from Aitken and stick the ball in to the net.
Good forward play from Martin McBride and Andy Gibson saw Stranraer maintain their threat and it was not too much of a surprise when they equalised. Frizell played the ball forward to Stephen McConalogue after some intricate build-up play and he lashed in a shot which gave Grindlay little chance.
The visitors heaped misery on the Blues as the prolific Bryan Prunty struck home an effort on 85 minutes - his seventh goal in five games - for the Honest Men to kill off the game.
Ryan Stevenson had a further chance in the final moments but it stayed 3-1 and Ayr strengthened their position at the top, while Stranraer were left to rue missed chances and yet another game where they finished bereft of the full complement of playing personnel, a fact which probably won't be lost upon the SFL.
Stranraer: Black, Kane, Creaney, Dobbins, Noble, White, Gibson, McBride (Mitchell 79), Mullen (McConalogue 58), Tade, Frizzel.
Subs Not Used: McKinstry, McColm, Budinaikis.
Sent Off: Tade (35).
Booked: Tade, Kane, Dobbins, Creaney.
Goals: McConalogue 70.
Ayr: Grindlay, Dempsie, Easton (Agnew 79), Walker, Campbell (McGowan 32), Stevenson, Borris, Aitken, Prunty, Williams (Gormley 74), Keenan.
Subs Not Used: Weaver, Stewart.
Booked: Keenan.
Goals: Aitken 32, Borris 60, Prunty 85.
Att: 1,003
Ref: S Nicholls