Bell tolls thrice for Pars from 12 yards

CAMMY Bell has never known a day like it.

If ever a goalkeeper deserved to take home the match ball it was the

keeper, who saved three first half penalties – from three different players – as his team beat

3-1 at East End Park. Tony Andreu contributed two second-half goals after Simon Murray gave United a half-time lead, and not even a Michael Paton goal and a red card for Paul Dixon could ruin Bell’s day.

First, he kept out Gavin Reilly’s spotkick after nine minutes. Nicky Clark then tried his luck after 26 minutes – again Bell kept out the attempt.

It was almost comical when Dunfermline were awarded a third penalty five minutes later. Paul McMullan was the fall-guy this time as Bell completed his “hat-trick”.

“Cammy’s three saves were absolutely magnificent, and that’s why we bought him. He’s a top-class goalkeeper,” said Ray McKinnon, the United manager. “It was a very tough game for us and a pivotal one too because we showed our character and our determination not to get beaten.

“I’m really, really happy and I’m sure that will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

Queen of the South kept up their impressive start to the campaign by beating St Mirren 3-1 in Paisley, a result that condemned the home side to the foot of the table.

Derek Lyle and Stephen Dobbie are proving a formidable front pairing and they greedily helped themselves to all of Queen’s goals.

A back-heel from Dobbie set up the opener for Lyle and, although Tom Walsh equalised with an overhead kick after 41 minutes, Lyle struck again two minutes later when he converted Grant Anderson’s cross.

Dobbie made it 3-1 from Lyle’s pass after he calmly rounded the keeper to net and complete the scoring.

Falkirk handed Raith Rovers their first league defeat of the season with a 2-0 win at Stark’s Park. Former Raith player John Baird opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, after running on to a precise pass from Mark Kerr before firing the ball beyond Rovers goalkeeper Conor Brennan.

The points were secured 18 minutes from time, when Tom Taiwo drove home following excellent support work from John Rankin.

Ayr United beat Morton 2-1 – their first league win of the season – at Somerset Park. Ayr took the lead two minutes into the second half, when Paul Cairney scored from close range after the excellent Gary Harkins set him up.

Andy McNeil saved brilliantly to prevent Alan Forrest heading a second, but the goalkeeper was beaten by a Forrest volley after 69 minutes, when Harkins had wrongfooted the Morton defence.

Mark Russell was sent off for Morton after 72 minutes for a cynical foul to leave them in deeper trouble.

They gave themselves a lifeline with five minutes left when Ross Forbes scored with a free-kick, but Ayr held on to move off the foot of the table.