First Division: Neil McCann creates a last-minute twist worthy of any soap opera plot

Neil McCann's usual employers, Sky Television, used to produce a weekly soap opera-style programme called Dream Team about the fictional Harchester United, although the plots were never as good as Dundee's 2-1 win over Raith Rovers at Dens Park on Saturday.

The 36-year-old McCann, coming on as substitute to play his first game since the Scottish Cup final in May 2009, and his first game for Dundee after leaving them nearly 15 years ago, received a Matt Lockwood cross via Craig Forsyth and sent home a left-foot shot to clinch a last-minute win for his manager Barry Smith, who, like McCann, was listed as a trialist on the bench.

Rovers had taken the lead after 51 minutes when Allan Walker sent over a corner and visiting captain Grant Murray headed home from inside the six-yard box. Three points looked to be heading to Fife until Gary Harkins curled home a 25-yard free-kick to draw Dundee level with six minutes left before McCann's dramatic intervention.

Smith said: "It really is unbelievable stuff. It was a fantastic goal to win to win the game and we are really giving the fans something to shout about here. The players worked until the final minute and they simple just refuse to give in."

Visiting Raith manager John McGlynn said: "We were certainly not at our best, apart from a 20-minute spell in the second half. We made a few bad decisions and that gave Dundee hope that they could get at us and that is what ended up happening."

Dunfermline took full advantage of their Kirkcaldy neighbours going down as they defeated Cowdenbeath 4-0 to within two points of the summit. With all the goals coming in the second half, David Graham grabbed two and Liam Buchanan and Andy Kirk completed the scoring. Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre said: "There are a lot of good sides fighting it out at the top of the table, so it is going to be tight from now until the end of the season. I am pleased we are right in the middle of it."

Falkirk left it late to make up ground on Raith Rovers, but their ten men eventually saw off the nine of visitors Morton, thanks to Mark Stewart's goal on 81 minutes. Morton's Carlo Monti was shown a straight red card for a foul on Jack Compton and Michael Tidser collected two yellow cards, as did Falkirk's Mark Millar.

Falkirk manager Steven Pressley said: "We were disciplined and patient and got a really big result. I thought the referee got all three red cards correct." Morton skipper Stuart McCaffrey, however, said: "Carlo's was a bad trip but I don't think he hurt the player. To me it was a yellow card only."

Former Hearts wide-man, Allan Johnston, struck at the death to earn Queen of the South a 3-3 draw with Partick Thistle at Palmerston Park. Martin Grehan and Kris Doolan put the Glasgow side 2-0 up at half-time. Willie McLaren pulled a goal back, but Iain Flannigan looked to have won it for Thistle with a goal with just eight minutes left.However, McLaren struck again to give the home side hope and Johnston jabbed in the equaliser. His manager Kenny Brannigan said: "I did think it was all over when it went to 3-1 but when we pulled a goal back I thought that we could maybe just do it. It was a tremendous effort from the players."