Cowdenbeath 0 - 5 Queen of South - Lyle treble as Blue Brazil crushed

Derek Lyle scored a hat-trick as Queen of the South cruised to a 5-0 win at Scottish Championship strugglers Cowdenbeath.

Lyle opened the scoring for Queens on the stroke of half-time, heading home Ian McShane's corner for his 12th goal of the season.

He then teed-up strike partner Gavin Reilly, who found the bottom corner for his 11th goal this term and first in six in the 56th minute.

Two minutes later Lyle claimed his second of the game with a fine finish into the top corner before McShane added a fourth in the 61st minute after being found by Kevin Holt.

Michael Paton hit a post shortly afterwards but Queens made it 5-0 nine minutes from time with Lyle adding his third from the penalty spot after Iain Russell was fouled by Thomas O'Brien.

It was a first win on the road in six games for Queens while Cowdenbeath remain without a victory in six, losing five of them, and went down to a fourth straight reverse at home.