Raith lose further ground as Thistle draw dents title bid
RAITH ROVERS saw their cinch Championship title hopes suffer another blow after being held to a 0-0 draw by Partick Thistle at Stark’s Park.
Ian Murray’s side are now six points behind leaders Dundee United with three games left, having won just one of their last five matches.
It could have been worse for Raith as Blair Alston saw his free-kick hit the crossbar deep into stoppage time moments after coming on as a substitute.
Before that, the best chance of the game arrived on the half-hour when Partick goalkeeper David Mitchell produced a fantastic save to keep out Zak Rudden’s close-range header.
Mitchell also saved from Sam Stanton and Dylan Easton, while Aidan Fitzpatrick, Zander Mackenzie, Brian Graham and Harry Milne tested Raith keeper Kevin Dabrowski.
Meanwhile, Inverness Caley Thistle leapfrogged Queen’s Park and out of the relegation play-off spot with a 1-0 win over the Spiders at Hampden.
Cameron Harper’s brilliant 25-yard free-kick midway through the first half proved the difference as Duncan Ferguson’s men built on their win over Arbroath last time out to move two points above Queen’s Park.
The visitors created several decent openings to increase their lead but Billy Mckay and Samson Lawal were unable to find a way past Calum Ferrie.
However, Queen’s Park could not take advantage at the other end, with Jack Turner and Cillian Sheridan being denied by Caley Thistle keeper Mark Ridgers.
Elsewhere, Ayr United put further daylight between themselves and that relegation play-off spot with a thumping 5-0 win against bottom club Arbroath.
The home side were cruising at the break. Kurt Willoughby won and scored a penalty after 23 minutes to put them in front and Frankie Musonda doubled the Honest Men’s lead nine minutes later when he tucked home the rebound after goalkeeper Max Boruc had kept out the first effort.
A second penalty shortly before half time made it comfortable for Ayr, with Anton Dowds scoring after Harry McHugh had been fouled.
Ben Dempsey added a fourth after 68 minutes, slotting home after a quick free-kick from Jamie Murphy, and Logan Chalmers capped an impressive display from the home side with a fifth in stoppage time.
Dean McMaster and Gavin Gallagher scored their first Airdrie goals as the play-off hopefuls earned a 2-1 victory over Dunfermline.
McMaster, celebrating his 21st birthday, put the home side in front on the brink of half time as he rifled home from just outside the box.
Malachi Fagan-Walcott levelled things up for Dunfermline on the hour but Airdrie were soon back in front with Gallagher restoring the hosts’ lead in the 63rd minute.