First Division: Falkirk take advantage of call-off to close gap on County

Falkirk took advantage of snow putting paid to Ross County’s game with Partick Thistle to put pressure on the league leaders by returning home from Livingston with a 2-1 success and narrowing the gap between the First Division’s top two to just three points.

The Bairns may have played two games more but Steven Pressley’s men showed they intend to fight the Dingwall men all the way for promotion with a battling performance against the Lions.

After a bright opening at both end’s, Falkirk’s Farid El Alagui glanced in a David Weatherston cross with his head to open the scoring after 12 minutes. Livingston drew level midway through the second half when Marc McNulty took advantage of some slack visiting defending to shoot home with a precise finish from just inside the box.

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Falkirk bounced back and Kallum Higginbotham won the game 19 minutes from time with a free kick that took a deflection off the home wall to leave Livingston goalkeeper Andy McNeil helpless.

Dundee bounced back from their Boxing Day defeat from Morton to see off Raith Rovers 1-0 at Stark’s Park to sit six points behind Ross County, having also played two games more.

The winner came ten minutes before half-time when Nicky Riley sent over a cross from the right and striker Jake Hyde sent home a glorious header that gave David McGurn no chance.

Former Dens Park striker Pat Clarke made his debut as a half-time substitute for Rovers as they looked to hit back and Dark Blues goalkeeper Robert Douglas had to act smartly to keep out a 20-yard drive from John Baird.

Former leaders Morton appear to be getting back on track and they made it two wins in a row by defeating Ayr United 3-1 at Cappielow. The Honest Men got their noses in front on 19 minutes when Michael Moffat turned home a Michael McGowan cross from close range.

The Greenock side pulled level just before half-time when David O’Brien converted from six yards after good work by wide-man Archie Campbell. Campbell got the goal he deserved on 63 minutes when he shot home from 12 yards and team-mate Paul Di Giacomo ensured a happy New Year for manager Allan Moore when he made it three from a couple of yards out a minute from the end.

A missed penalty cost Queen of the South dearly as they went down 2-1 to visitors Hamilton Accies to remain in bottom spot. Dougie Imrie fired the New Douglas Park men in front after just five minutes when he shot home after a Jim McAlister effort had struck the woodwork. Imrie doubled his own and Hamilton’s tally minutes later with a left-foot shot from 20 yards, although he did miss the chance of a hat-trick shortly afterwards.

Queens were given a route back into the game with 20 minutes left when the visiting Mark McLaughlin was dismissed for a penalty-box foul on Kevin Smith, but Scott McLaughlin’s penalty was saved by Accies’ trialist goalkeeper Scott Christie.

Ryan McGuffie headed in from close range eight minutes from time, but the ten men held on to move six points clear of their hosts.