Leaders’ five-star show moves them four clear

KAI FOTHERINGHAM scored twice to help keep Dundee United four points clear at the top of the cinch Championship with a 5-0 victory at Queen’s Park.

The Terrors had to wait until the stroke of half time to take the lead and it was Fotheringham who made the difference, stroking home Tony Watt’s cross.

Louis Moult doubled the visitors’ advantage when he raced through and lifted the ball over Calum Ferrie in the 55th minute.

United put the result beyond doubt on the hour when Ross Graham met Miller Thomson’s corner and headed home. Fotheringham poked home a fourth in the 64th minute and Craig Sibbald made it five a few minutes later with a fierce strike.

Raith kept pace with the leaders with a 2-1 home victory over Ayr.

Dylan Easton celebrated his 30th birthday in style by netting the opener on the stroke of half time, curling an effort into the top corner from the edge of box.

Ayr equalised 10 minutes after half time when substitute Logan Chalmers struck. But Jack Hamilton restored Raith’s lead in the 65th minute, keeping his cool to score from the penalty spot after Mark McKenzie committed a foul in the box, to leave Rovers four points behind Dundee United with a game in hand.

Dunfermline salvaged a valuable point in their push for the play-offs following a 1-1 draw with third-placed Partick Thistle at KDM Group East End Park.

Brian Graham broke the deadlock in the 25th minute as the ball fell kindly to the 36-year-old striker, following Scott Robinson’s initial blocked effort, and managed to bundle over the line.

Dunfermline replied, however, with 12 minutes remaining when Chris Kane was brought down by Aaron Muirhead in the penalty area and the striker picked himself up to send David Mitchell the wrong way.

Thistle almost snatched victory three minutes later when Kerr McInroy hit the outside of the post from the edge of the box with home goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet beaten.

Airdrie boosted their play-off ambitions with a comfortable 3-1 home victory over fellow hopefuls Morton.

Nikolay Todorov gave the hosts a fast start with his 11th goal of the season when he fired into the top-left corner inside a minute.

Airdrie doubled their advantage through Charlie Telfer’s composed finish in the 15th minute before Mason Hancock all but sealed the three points by heading home from a corner with 22 minutes remaining.

Michael Garrity grabbed a consolation for the visitors.

With the win, Airdrie consolidated the fourth and final play-off spot, moving three points clear of Dunfermline.

Arbroath are all but relegated after falling 12 points from the relative safety of ninth place following a 2-1 defeat at nearest rivals Inverness.

Wallace Duffy sent the Caley Jags into the break ahead after beating Max Boruc from

10 yards out.

It was Arbroath who grabbed the next goal, however, when Leighton McIntosh found the back of the net from distance just after the hour.

The visitors would later go down to 10 men as Ricky Little earned a second yellow for fouling Billy Mckay and Inverness quickly took advantage through Samuel, who snaffled his fourth goal of the season.