George Oakley treble inspires Raith Rovers to emphatic win over Arbroath

George Oakley struck a hat-trick as Raith Rovers bounced back to winning ways in the Scottish Championship by beating Arbroath 4-0 at Gayfield Park.

Rovers lost 2-0 at home to Inverness last week, but quickly put that behind them by scoring twice inside the opening three minutes through Oakley and Scott Tiffoney.

Oakley headed his second to put his side 3-0 up at the break and completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute as Rovers secured their fourth league win on the road this season to climb to within a point of leaders Partick Thistle.

Thistle slipped to their first home league defeat of the campaign, losing 3-2 to Greenock Morton, with Callum Sandilands scoring twice for the visitors.

Dunfermline made it three straight league wins and 10 unbeaten after thrashing Inverness 5-1 at East End Park, where Oli Shaw notched a double.

Luke McBeth’s stoppage-time strike sealed Ayr a 3-2 home win against bottom club Queen’s Park, who have now lost 10 of their 13 league games this season.

Ross County moved two points clear at the top of Scottish League One after extending their unbeaten league start to 13 matches with a 2-1 win at East Kilbride, thanks to goals from Brian Graham and Kieran Phillips.

Second-placed Hamilton are also unbeaten after 13 league games, but they dropped two points after being held 1-1 at home to Montrose, who sit a distant third after Kieran Freeman struck their late equaliser.

Destiny Oladipo’s second-half goal earned bottom side Cove Rangers their second league win of the season, 1-0 at Airdrieonians, Peterhead won 2-1 at home against Alloa and East Fife beat Queen of the South 2-0 at Bayview Stadium.

The top-of-the-table clash in Scottish League Two at Stair Park failed to live up to its billing as leaders Stranraer were held to a goalless draw by Clyde.

Elgin took advantage to climb to within three points of the leaders after Lewis Mackay’s late goal clinched a 1-0 win at Kelty Hearts.

Marc McNulty’s double, his second from the penalty spot, helped the Spartans seal a 3-2 home win against Annan, Robbie McNab also scored twice in Stirling Albion’s 5-2 home win against Forfar and Jack Leitch’s stoppage-time goal snatched Edinburgh City a 2-1 home win against Dumbarton.