Moult spares leaders’ blushes with wonder strike but United leave the door open for Raith to go top
LOUIS MOULT’S spectacular strike spared leaders Dundee United’s blushes as they dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Inverness Caley Thistle to give Raith Rovers the chance to leapfrog them at the summit with their game in hand.
Both sides had early chances with Alex Greive going close for the hosts and Nathan Shaw threatening for the visitors, who took the lead with 12 minutes gone when Wallace Duffy pounced after goalkeeper Jack Walton had parried Aribim Pepple’s cross. United responded and Ross Docherty forced goalkeeper Mark Ridgers into an 18th-minute save before Glenn Middleton headed wide but they headed in at the break trailing despite a strong finish to the half. However, they got themselves back on level terms in eye-catching style 10 minutes after the re-start when substitute Moult struck from long range.
Declan Gallagher smashed a 62nd-minute half-volley against a post and Ridgers denied Ross Graham in the aftermath before keeping out Docherty’s 70th-minute header to ensure the side which started the day in ninth place emerged with a point.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet was Dunfermline’s hero as his late penalty save ensured that Miles Welch-Hayes’ header was enough to secure a 1-0 win at Greenock Morton.
In a first half of few clear-cut chances, Morton’s Kirk Broadfoot twice went close in the early stages. The visitors rallied as the half wore on with Ewan Otoo shooting over five minutes before the break, before Chris Kane forced goalkeeper Ryan Mullen into a save with a header.
The Pars finally got their reward after 55 minutes when Welch-Hayes headed home following a short corner worked between Kane and Kane Ritchie-Hosler. The hosts were handed an opportunity to level when Otoo fouled substitute Jai Quitongo inside the penalty area, but Robbie Muirhead’s 84th-minute spot-kick was saved by Mehmet.
Queen’s Park returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory against Ayr United. The Spiders went in front in the 19th minute when Louis Longridge picked out Ruari Paton in
the box and the striker nodded home from close range.
Cillian Sheridan doubled the lead for the visitors in the 59th minute, and they threatened again when Dom Thomas blasted a shot off the crossbar. Jack Sanders pulled one back for Ayr in the 78th minute after heading home from Harry McHugh’s corner but the visitors held on to see out their first victory following three successive league draws.
Aidan Fitzpatrick’s goal was the difference as Partick Thistle earned back-to-back Championship wins with a 1-0 win over strugglers Arbroath.