Thistle close the gap on leaders Ayr

PARTICK THISTLE beat Raith Rovers 2-1 at Firhill to move within a point of Championship leaders Ayr United.

Thistle took a third-minute lead through Scott Tiffoney after skipper Ross Docherty’s blocked shot had sparked a goalmouth scramble in the Rovers box.

Harry Milne saw his effort ruled out for offside for the hosts.

But Steven Lawless doubled the home side’s lead three minutes before the break with a composed finish.

Ethan Ross halved the deficit a minute later, but the visitors could not salvage a point despite putting the hosts under late pressure.

Elsewhere, Steve Lawson’s penalty left 10-man Arbroath rooted to the foot of the cinch Scottish Championship table as Hamilton secured their first league win of the season.

Lawson’s 58th-minute spotkick sealed a 1-0 victory after Thomas O’Brien had been sent off for handball. The home side started strongly and threatened when, with Lewis Smith having already gone close, striker JeanPierre Tiehi fired just over on the turn with 15 minutes gone.

The breakthrough finally arrived 13 minutes into the second half when, after Arbroath’s O’Brien had been dismissed, Lawson, whose shot he had blocked illegally, converted the resulting penalty.

Substitutes Ryan One and Jonny Ngandu both might have doubled their side’s advantage but it was Lawson who went closest to a second goal in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, Skipper Grant Gillespie’s late penalty handed Morton victory at Inverness.

Gillespie struck five minutes from time after Wallace Duffy had been penalised for handling in the area to secure a 1-0 win.

Elsewhere, Queen’s Park claimed a third successive win by beating Cove Rangers 2-1.

Simon Murray put the Spiders ahead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Dom Thomas had rattled the post from distance. Murray curled home a superb second after 64 minutes, his seventh goal of the season.

Cove, who had come close to taking the lead when Morgyn Neill’s header was cleared off the line by Stephen Eze, instantly pulled a goal back through Leighton McIntosh, but there would be no complete comeback.