Falkirk took advantage of the draw between the Championship's top two, Hamilton Academical and Dundee, to re-ignite their own title hopes with a 5-0 home hammering of Cowdenbeath.
Rory Loy hit a hat-trick as Gary Holt's side stamped their authority on the game from the outset. Loy scored his first after 15 minutes when he thumped the ball past Sebastian Usai and Cowdenbeath never recovered from the loss of the early goal.
Loy had grabbed his second goal before the half-hour when he raced on to Craig Sibbald's pass to send the ball beyond Usai.
The Cowdenbeath goalkeeper was at fault for the third goal five minutes before the break. His poor clearance was pounced upon by Blair Alston, who sent a 25-yard shot into the net.
Three goals down and floundering, Cowdenbeath were punished again when Sibbald scored Falkirk's fourth three minutes into the second half and then Loy completed his hat-trick when his quick feet in the box freed up space to find the bottom corner for his 19th goal of the season.
Falkirk have now won three successive matches and are building momentum ahead of the run-in.
Cowdenbeath's defeat enabled Morton to avoid relegation at least for another week, and they produced one of their best performances of the campaign to beat Livingston 2-0 at Cappielow.
The home side looked in the mood from the start and but for some heroics by Darren Jamieson in the Livingston goal would have won by a more handsome margin. It was no surprise when Dougie Imrie gave Morton the lead after 14 minutes with a shot through a crowded penalty area which caught Jamieson unsighted.
Morton had a penalty claim turned down when Keaghan Jacobs looked to catch Fouad Bachirou but referee Craig Charleston waved play on. The lively Imrie had a chance to score a second but Jamieson again saved well.
Livingston had an opportunity to level but Danny Mullen could not convert when the ball fell to him in the area.
Barrie McKay squeezed home Morton's second goal just before half-time from a tight angle after Marc Fitzpatrick had set him up.
Livingston substitute Mark Burchill had a couple of late chances but Derek Gaston saved well on both occasions.
Dumbarton bounced back from their midweek defeat to Morton to cruise past Alloa Athletic 4-1 at the Bet Butler Stadium. Mark Gilhaney, back in the starting line-up, opened the scoring after 25 minutes, his shot going in off the inside of the post.
Garry Fleming doubled Dumbarton's lead three minutes into the second half with a shot that beat Scott Bain with the aid of a deflection. Andy Kirk almost pulled a goal back but just failed to connect with Kevin Cawley's cross.
Jamie Ewings then pulled off a magnificent save to tip a Kirk header over his crossbar and Dumbarton made sure of the points with two quickfire goals. Scott Agnew thumped home an excellent third goal with a shot from the edge of the area and substitute Chris Kane headed home their fourth.
Liam Caddis scored a late consolation for Alloa.
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