Leaders beaten as Pars boost play-off bid with first triumph over United in 13 years

Dundee United’s march to the Championship title hit a bump as Dunfermline boosted their chances of being involved in the end-of-season play-offs with a 2-0 win over the runaway leaders at East End Park.

The hosts took the lead on 26 minutes when Kyle Turner picked out Kevin Nisbet with a delicate cross and the striker looped a header over Benjamin Siegrist from 10 yards.

Lawrence Shankland sent the best hope of an equaliser straight at Owain Fon Williams, and Dunfermline grabbed their second goal on the hour when Dom Thomas drilled the ball across the face of United’s goal and Jonathan Afolabi, pictured, tapped in.

After securing the Pars’ first win in 13 years over their Tayside opponents, and moving to within two points of fourth-placed Dundee, Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford said: “We have given ourselves the chance to start looking up the way after a performance full of positives which included a clean sheet and scoring two good goals.”

United boss Robbie Neilson said: “We never competed in the manner we have done throughout the season. We have performed well in a lot of games this season but this was a very disappointing afternoon.”

Ayr United returned to winning ways after their midweek defeat from Morton with a 2-0 victory at Alloa that lifted the Honest Men up to third. Aaron Drinan back-heeled the

Somerset Park side ahead on nine minutes after Wasps goalkeeper Kieran Wright failed to gather a cross. The three points were secured eight minutes from the end when Allan Forrest found the top corner with a shot from the edge of the box.

Morton’s fine run continued with a 4-0 success at Palmerston against a Queen of the South side who have not won in 2020 and are firmly in the sights of bottom side Partick Thistle who they host tomorrow night.

Reghan Tumilty got the

Greenock men up and running on 25 minutes when he hooked the ball in and David Hopkin’s side led by two at the break when Aidan Nesbitt slammed home a cross.

Nicky Cadden outmuscled Kevin Holt before firing under Stewart with 13 minutes left, and the scoring was concluded when the Doonhamers’ Lee Kilday kicked the ball off Craig Mcguffie and watched on as it rebounded into the net.

The meeting between Dundee and Arbroath was called off as Dens Park was waterlogged.