First Division: Wyness sparks goal spree as Dunfermline woes deepen

Published on Monday 28 September 2009 00:35

DENNIS Wyness made a scoring start for Queen of the South, who went top of the table with a 4-1 over struggling Dunfermline at East End Park.

Wyness, brought in on loan from St Mirren, netted the opening goal in 33 minutes as Gordon Chisholm's men struck four times before half-time to all but kill the game off, despite a quick equaliser by Nicky Phinn.

Moments after Dunfermline's Joe Cardle tumbled in the box to no avail, Paul Burns lobbed the visitors in front again in 39 minutes. Burns found the net again three minutes later and Derek Holmes left Dunfermline reeling when he netted from the spot after Scott Muirhead was adjudged to have fouled double goalscorer Burns.

Chisholm, who saw goalkeeper Ludovic Roy taken off injured in 24 minutes, said: "I'm delighted to be top of the league but I know it is harder to stay there. Last year we did it for three games and we'd like to hold on for a lot longer this time."

Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre said: "We should have had a penalty but mistakes killed us. We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot."

Dundee followed up their midweek cup victory over Aberdeen by sinking league leaders Ross County 2-0 at Dens Park. Leigh Griffiths, who grabbed the winning goal against the Dons, scored both goals against County, who had Richard Brittain and Steven Craig carried off early on.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle's players were hauled in for extra training yesterday in the wake of their 3-2 home defeat by Partick Thistle. The visitors were three up by half time with Liam Buchanan netting a double. Alan Archibald added the third.

A reported flu bug looked to have taken its toll on Ian McCall's men in the second half, however, as an Adam Rooney penalty and a Richie Foran goal reduced the deficit to one goal, but Partick held on for the three points.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher said: "We were unbelievably bad. Another home defeat is not acceptable."

It was a day of contrasting fortunes at Somerset Park as Ayr United won for the first time in the First Division and Raith Rovers lost for the first time since the pair were promoted in May.

Former Motherwell midfielder Kenny Connolly grabbed the game's only goal and his first strike of the season when he forced the ball over the line from close range.

Ayr manager Brian Reid was relieved to get that elusive first win under his belt. He said: "I'm delighted. It was deserved and it could have been more."

His Raith counterpart John McGlynn said: "We dropped our standards and when you do that, you get beat."

Managerless Morton saw off Airdrie United 1-0 at Cappielow to leapfrog the Diamonds at the foot of the table. Veteran striker James Grady was in the dugout in place of the departed Davie Irons, and he saw Brian Graham scramble home the game's only goal with 11 minutes left.

Grady said: "I would love the job full time. Allan McManus and I will continue to prepare the team until we are told otherwise."