Scott Brown struck a sensational late winner as second-placed Raith Rovers beat Dundee United 2-1 to cut the gap on the cinch Championship leaders to one point.

Raith came in to the game on the back of five straight defeats, three of them in the league.

But their strong start was rewarded after nine minutes when on-loan Dundee striker Zak Rudden turned home Liam Dick’s cross at the near post for his first Rovers goal.

The visitors grew in confidence as the half wore on and equalised after 39 minutes when Ross Graham met David Wotherspoon corner’s and Louis Moult helped it in from close range.

Raith claimed the points in spectacular fashion when Brown chested a ball down in the 89th minute and volleyed home his first goal of the season from 25 yards.

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.

Raith Rovers kept on the coattails of cinch Championship leaders Dundee United with a 2-1 win at Morton.

After Josh Mullin had struck the crossbar with a free-kick, he turned provider for Aidan Connolly to open the scoring in the 26th minute.

Connolly headed home in style and then made it two five minutes before the break when he converted Ross Millen’s cross.

The hosts made a game of it in the second half, with Ian Wilson tapping home the rebound after Jack Baird had rattled the crossbar, but they could not find a leveller.

Dundee United remained top of the Scottish Championship after hitting back to draw 1-1 at second-placed Raith Rovers.

Louis Moult cancelled out Lewis Vaughan’s opener to keep United a point clear of their closest challengers.

Home goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski kept out Kai Fotheringham’s effort in a cagey start between two in-form sides.

Rovers went ahead in the 24th minute when Vaughan poked home on the rebound after his own header came back off a post.

But the visitors maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign thanks to substitute Moult’s 67th-minute header from a Declan Glass corner.

Raith Rovers condemned Dunfermline to their first cinch Championship defeat of the season after a 1-0 victory in the Fife derby at East End Park.

Dunfermline went close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute when Lewis McCann tested visiting goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski before Aaron Comrie hit a post with the rebound. From the resulting corner, Ewan Otoo flashed an effort wide.

Raith took the lead in the 36th minute when Sam Stanton glanced home Callum Smith’s cross for his first goal of the season.

Stanton almost doubled his and Raith’s tally seven minutes after the break but he was denied by a smart save by Dunfermline goalkeeper Harrison Sharp.

Otoo fired a late effort over the crossbar for Dunfermline as Ian Murray’s side held on for three points to remain unbeaten and climb up to third in the table.