PRE-SEASON promotion favourites St Johnstone moved to the top of the First Division with a 2-1 victory at Dunfermline in front of 4,653 fans – the highest attendance at an SFL match this season.
Derek McInnes' men went ahead after only five minutes when Martin Hardie curled home a free-kick from 20 yards out, only for Dunfermline's Scott Wilson to nod in an equaliser midway through the first half. St Johnstone's Liam Craig ignored Dunfermlin
e appeals that the ball had gone out for a throw-in to hammer home a 35-yard winner in 67 minutes.
The only downside on a great day for the Perth men and the large following they brought with them was Stephen Glass' first half challenge on Kevin Moon that saw the St Johnstone man stretchered off. East End Park manager Jim McIntyre said: "The turning point was the non-decision before their second goal when we felt the ball had gone out of play. We should have stopped their player after that but I have to say I thought there were a few bizarre decisions for both sides throughout."
Queen of the South were deposed at the top when Partick Thistle put their recent poor run behind them to win 2-0. Kevin McKinlay grabbed his first goal of the season when he volleyed home on the stroke of half time
before Queens centre-back Jim Thomson was sent off. Gary Harkins sealed the win for the hosts with a late penalty after Craig Reid was judged to have brought down Liam Buchanan in the box.
Jocky Scott started his third spell in charge of Dundee with a 1-1 draw against Airdrie at Dens Park. The visitors had the better of the first half, but an 11th-minute goal from Simon Lynch was all they had to show for their superiority. Dundee made them pay when Mickael Antoine-Curier grabbed the equaliser in 66 minutes.
Livingston got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Morton thanks to a goal from on-loan Hearts striker Calum Elliot who struck with 14 minutes to go. A drab first half could have ended up ten-a-side, but referee Brian Winter opted to show leniency to Elliot and the visitors' Kevin Finlayson, who clashed near the touchline.
Jason Talbot rattled the bar from distance before the introduction of youngster Leigh Griffiths sparked the game into life, and Elliot finished in fine style from 20 yards leaving Kevin Cuthbert helpless. Almondvale manager Roberto Landi said: "I am happy that the referee understood that red cards were not needed for Calum and their player."
Ross County defeated Clyde 3-0, with all the goals coming in the last seven minutes. Substitute Sean Higgins broke the deadlock from close range and fellow sub Michael Gardyne doubled the lead 60 seconds later.
Richie Hart slid in to seal the victory in injury time. County manager Derek Adams said: "We are now showing that we have a much bigger squad to cope with the First Division. Not only are we bigger in numbers, we now have matchwinners throughout the squad."
Clyde, who sit only two points above Morton at the foot of the table, do not have the same luxury and their squad is stretched as a result of injuries. Manager John Brown said: "We were without four first-team players but we managed to frustrate them for a long time. It looks like it was a real heavy defeat but there were never three goals in it."
The full article contains 602 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
