Queen’s Park boosted their cinch Championship survival hopes with a 3-0 win at fellow strugglers Dunfermline.

Jack Turner’s effort deflected just over was the highlight of a dismal first half and it was the same player who finally sparked the game into life in the 66th minute.

Stuart McKinstry whipped the ball into the box and Turner’s glancing header beat goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet.

Dom Thomas spectacularly doubled the lead as his left-foot strike into the top corner left Mehmet grasping at air, and Celtic loanee Mackenzie Carse – on as a substitute for only the third senior appearance of his career – grabbed a late third.

Dom Thomas’ third goal in six games helped Queen’s Park secure a vital 1-0 win against fellow cinch Championship strugglers Inverness.

Alex Bannon headed wide from Thomas’ early free-kick, while Alex Samuel was off target for the hosts at the other end.

Charlie Gilmour fired over for Inverness shortly before the break, while Calum Ferrie had to be alert in the Queen’s Park goal to keep out Nathan Shaw’s effort.

Thomas put the visitors ahead five minutes after the interval when he cut in from the right and converted a low effort.

Nikola Ujdur headed over late on as Inverness failed to find an equaliser as the gap between the sides was cut to a single point.

In-form Morton piled more misery on Dunfermline with a thumping 5-0 away win in the Scottish Championship.

Darragh O’Connor and Jack Baird scored twice as Morton extend their unbeaten league run to 10 matches.

Morton took a 10th-minute lead when Robbie Muirhead’s ball across goal was turned in by O’Connor for his first goal of the season.

Baird added a second in the 34th minute, scoring from the rebound after goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet denied George Oakley.

O’Connor doubled his tally in the 51st minute with a close-range finish before Baird followed suit six minutes later.

Michael Garrity curled in a fifth with 15 minutes left as the hosts were left winless in seven games and just a point above the bottom two.

Dundee United fought back to beat Ayr 2-1 and extend their lead at the top of the cinch Championship to four points.

Ayr were ahead after just two minutes at Somerset Park when former Scotland winger Jamie Murphy struck a superb free-kick into the far corner.

The visitors eventually drew level in the 67th minute through substitute Tony Watt, who managed to find the bottom corner.

Watt then turned provider with eight minutes left as he teed up Dundee United captain Ross Docherty at the near post before Ayr defender George Stanger was sent off in stoppage time.

Table-topping Dundee United endured a frustrating afternoon as they were held to a goalless draw by Dunfermline.

Chances were at a premium in the first half, with Dundee United defender Ross Graham’s header which cleared the crossbar the closest either side came to an opener.

Dunfermline came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute when Craig Wighton’s close-range effort came back off a post.

The leaders almost snatched victory in the closing seconds but Archie Meekison was denied by a stunning stop from Deniz Mehmet.

Tomi Adeloye earned third-placed Partick Thistle a point in a 1-1 draw at Airdrie.

The home side took the lead after 37 minutes when Adam Frizzell’s corner was not properly cleared and Craig Watson poked home the loose ball.

They were pegged back before the break when Jack McMillan played in Adeloye and he beat his defender before slotting past the goalkeeper.

After a tame start to the second half, Airdrie came close twice in as many minutes when Charlie Telfer’s curling effort was tipped over the crossbar and Arron Lyall volleyed inches wide from the resulting corner as Thistle held on for a point.

Alex Samuel scored a first-half hat-trick on his league debut as Inverness edged a 3-2 Scottish Championship victory over promotion-contenders Raith at Stark’s Park.

Former Livingston striker Jack Hamilton headed Josh Mullin’s corner home after 25 minutes for his 10th goal of the season in all competitions as the home side took the lead.

But six minutes later, Samuel equalised with the first goal of his nine-minute treble as he fired Nathan Shaw’s assist down the centre of the goal.

The 28-year-old on-loan Ross County forward picked out the bottom corner for his brace before completing his hat-trick – five minutes ahead of half-time – to make it four goals in two games after scoring on his Caley debut in the cup last weekend.

Seven minutes after the break, Lewis Vaughan reduced the deficit for the hosts after some good work from Zak Rudden but the visitors held on for maximum points.

Morton climbed into the cinch Championship play-off picture as they made it nine games unbeaten with a 3-0 win over 10-man Arbroath.

Darragh O’Connor saw his header superbly saved by Maksymilian Boruc with Iain Wilson’s follow-up blocked on the line as the hosts came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half.

Visiting midfielder Keaghan Jacobs was then given his marching orders in the 28th minute for a foul on Cameron Blues, soon after being booked for a foul on Robbie Crawford.

The deadlock was eventually broken after 63 minutes when Jack Baird was brought down in the box and Robbie Muirhead converted from the spot.

Tyler French picked out George Oakley with 15 minutes to go and he shot beyond Boruc to make it 2-0 before Grant Gillespie’s penalty wrapped it up.

Ayr United made it successive victories in the cinch Championship after winning 2-1 at 10-man Queen’s Park in Scott Brown’s first game in charge.

The Honest Men, who beat Arbroath 2-0 on Tuesday for their first league win in six games, were ahead at half-time thanks to Jamie Murphy’s 40th-minute free-kick.

Queen’s Park equalised after 63 minutes when Ruari Paton headed home Dom Thomas’ cross.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men moments later, though, when Sean Welsh was shown a second yellow card.

Ayr United made them pay in the 74th minute as Fraser Bryden lifted the ball over the defence for Mark McKenzie to nod in the winner.

Two late goals helped Ayr edge past fellow cinch Championship strugglers Arbroath in challenging conditions at Somerset Park.

Both sides battled heavy rain and wind and looked set to repeat the deadlock from their previous encounter at Gayfield just 10 days ago.

Jamie Murphy missed a chance to put the hosts in front from the penalty spot in the 55th minute when he hit the post and the rebound was pushed out for a corner.

Ben Dempsey finally made the breakthrough in the 74th minute with a brilliant long-range strike, and Logan Chalmers added the second from close range three minutes later to seal the win.

Arbroath and Ayr were forced to settle for a point apiece as the cinch Championship strugglers played out a goalless draw at Gayfield Stadium.

The hosts went closest in a tight first half when Leighton McIntosh headed against a post, but it was Ayr who had the greater share of the play.

The visitors stepped up a gear after the break and Ahkeem Rose spurned a good chance when he shot at Ali Adams.

Anton Dowds then fired over before Francis Amartey forced another save from Adams and Logan Chalmers hit the goal frame.

Arbroath felt they should have had a penalty in the closing stages after a challenge on Mark Stowe but nothing was given.

Substitute Ricco Diack hit a late equaliser as Partick Thistle came from behind to draw 1-1 in their cinch Championship match at Morton.

Morton had the ball in the net through Iain Wilson’s header in the 24th minute, but it was disallowed for offside before Robbie Crawford’s rising shot was tipped over by Jamie Sneddon.

The hosts eventually went in front in the 32nd minute when Crawford diverted the ball in from close range at a corner, with Jags defender Jack McMillan credited with the final touch for an own goal.

Partick were back on level terms with 15 minutes left when Diack, who had only just come on, drilled in a low shot after good build-up play from fellow substitutes Tomi Adeloye and Scott Robinson.

Adeloye, on loan from Swindon, saw a late effort hit a post and Ben Stanway had a penalty shout turned down in stoppage time as third-placed Thistle had to settle for a point.

New Queen’s Park head coach Callum Davidson got off to the perfect start as his side came from behind to beat cinch Premiership promotion chasers Raith 2-1 at Stark’s Park.

Rovers had taken an early lead when Jack Hamilton converted Dylan Easton’s cross in the third minute.

The Spiders, who beat Dunfermline last week to end a 15-game winless run in the Championship, were level three minutes before half-time when midfielder Cameron Bruce curled in a right-foot effort from the edge of the box.

Queen’s Park – who started the afternoon second-bottom of the table – turned the match around in the 56th minute when debutant Sean Welsh, signed after leaving Inverness, headed in from a corner.

Raith went close Hamilton’s header was well saved by Calum Ferrie, but could not get back on level terms and sit behind leaders Dundee United on goal difference after a first league defeat since the end of September.

Tony Watt scored a late winner as Dundee United edged out Inverness 1-0 to move top of the cinch Championship.

Looking to bounce back from last weekend’s home defeat to Morton, when they went down to an 88th-minute goal, United finally broke Inverness with three minutes to go at Caledonian Stadium.

United did well to put Glenn Middleton in down the left and his low cross was perfectly placed in-between defender and goalkeeper, allowing Watt to tap into an empty net at the far post.

Victory saw Jim Goodwin’s side climb to the top of the table, above Raith Rovers on goal difference.

Caley Thistle, who had the best chance of the first half but saw Jordan Tillson clear Danny Devine’s header off the line, remain seventh.

Airdrie handed leaders Raith Rovers only their second defeat of the cinch Championship campaign as they recorded a 1-0 home win.

Nikolay Todorov went close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute but was denied by a fine save from visiting goalkeeper Andrew McNeil.

Todorov managed to break the deadlock seven minutes later, heading in from Mason Hancock’s cross to put Airdrie ahead.

Rovers, who had Ross Millen sent off late on, were unable to find an equaliser as they slumped to defeat in the league for the first time since losing to the same opponents in September.