Lee Bullen hailed Ayr for riding an emotional rollercoaster to make the promotion play-offs.
A grandstand finish in the Highlands saw United see-saw between second and fifth place during a dramatic late flurry.
But substitute Mark McKenzie's winner ensures The Honest Men can now look forward to facing either Queen's Park or Partick Thistle in the semi-finals of the shootout - after incredibly finishing as Championship runners up.
