Linn treble maintains Arbroath’s march towards title

Bobby Linn scored a hat-trick as Scottish League One leaders Arbroath maintained their 16-point lead following a 3-2 comeback win against Airdrieonians at Gayfield Park.

Dale Carrick netted just before the half-hour mark to hand the visitors the lead before Linn picked out the top corner from a free-kick to equalise at the break.

Carrick then set up Darryl Duffy to put Airdrieonians in front for the second time seven minutes into the second half, only for Linn to strike two penalties in quick succession to seal the points and move joint top of the League One scoring charts.

Sharing top spot with Linn, Kevin Nisbet netted his 20th goal of the season after converting an early penalty as second-placed Raith Rovers eased past Montrose 4-1 at Stark’s Park.

Euan Murray’s header doubled Raith’s lead before second-half efforts from Liam Buchanan and Craig McGuffie – either side of a Terry Masson consolation – sealed the victory.

Forfar remain third on goal difference after they edged a 2-1 win at home to bottom side Stenhousemuir.

Jamie Bain and John Baird put the hosts ahead before Greg Hurst pulled one back.

Struggling Stranraer recorded their first win this year to move up to eighth following a 2-1 comeback win at 10-man Brechin, who have dropped down to ninth.

Two goals in three first-half minutes saw the hosts take the lead thanks to Euan Smith’s opener before Stranraer levelled through on-loan Kilmarnock striker Innes Cameron.

But Jamie Hamill fired home the winner 20 minutes from time, while Brechin midfielder Craig Thomson, a former loan player at Stranraer, was sent off for a second bookable offence late on.

Dom Thomas netted a hat-trick as Dumbarton held on for a narrow 4-3 victory at 10-man East Fife to move up a spot to seventh.

Thomas was on target with a first-half brace as Dumbarton took a 3-0 lead as his first two efforts sandwiched Calum Gallagher’s 36th-minute strike.

Patrick Slattery pulled one back for East Fife 10 minutes after the break and Kevin Smith headed a second as they fought back in the second half.

But Thomas completed his brace just after the hour, moments before Anton Dowds replied, with the hosts losing Chris Kane to a straight red card after 77 minutes.