First division: Dunfermline battle back to take top spot

Dunfermline roared back from two goals down at Falkirk on Saturday to secure a 2-2 draw, not only earning a point but moving into pole position in the First Division.

The Pars had looked down and out, however Andy Barrowman and substitute Ryan Thomson’s late goals coupled with Partick Thistle’s 3-1 defeat at Morton, saw the East End Park side take over at the top.

Falkirk, who have not won in the league at home this season, took the lead on the half hour mark when Lyle Taylor got away from the visiting defence to convert a Sean Higgins pass. As the Bairns, with former Hearts defender Robbie Neilson playing as a trialist, grew in confidence, Taylor made it 2-0 when he shot past Paul Gallacher again 11 minutes into the second half.

Dunfermline probed for a way back and they finally found one when Barrowman converted a Ryan Wallace cut-back on 79 minutes and with fresh impetus they pushed for an equaliser.

It came three minutes later when Thomson rose to head home, with the final whistle coming too soon as far as Dunfermline were concerned.

Pars manager Jim Jefferies said: “It felt like we had won and that good feeling increased when we learned that we had moved to the top of the table.

“We are a young side who had never been in the position of being two goals down before so it is really pleasing that they showed great character to get level.”

Falkirk boss Steven Pressley had mixed emotions, saying: “It is disappointing to lose a two-goal lead but I thought our lads put in a great performance.”

Morton gave Partick Thistle their first taste of defeat with a 3-1 win at Cappielow that saw the visitors’ Hugh Murray dismissed in the second half for a challenge that left Morton’s Steven Stirling with a fractured tibia.

Kevin Rutkiewicz headed home from a corner to put Morton ahead, with Steven Craig sweeping in an equaliser before Mark McLaughlin had the Greenock side ahead at half time. David O’Brien’s late goal secured Morton’s fifth win in a row.

Hamilton won for the first time this season and they did it in style in a 4-0 success at Airdrie United, with all the goals coming in the final quarter of the game.

Ali Crawford grabbed the first and Louis Longridge made it two on 72 minutes from close range.

Stevie May grabbed his first Hamilton goal with a low drive before netting a penalty for his second Accies strike with just two minutes left.

Raith Rovers were held 2-2 at home by bottom of the table Dumbarton, who had substitute Bryan Prunty to thank for a last-gasp leveller.

The Kirkcaldy side’s Brian Graham opened the scoring midway through the first half but Jim Lister levelled six minutes after the restart. All three points looked set to stay in Fife when Greig Spence nodded in, but Prunty levelled late on.

Cowdenbeath came from a man and a goal down to draw 1-1 at Livingston. The Blue Brazil’s John Armstrong was shown a straight red card for a foul on Tony Andreu ten minutes into the second half and the Lions took the lead on 70 minutes when Keaghan Jacobs drilled home. Lewis Milne, however, equalised late on.