Queen of the South moved to within two points of third-placed Rangers after a late Kevin Holt header gave them a 1-0 win over Alloa at Palmerston.

Alloa finished with ten men after Kyle Benedictus picked up his second booking near the end and Barry Smith, his manager, was sent to the stand by referee Craig Charleston.

In a tight contest, Alloa's Craig McDowall was the busier goalkeeper in the first half, thwarting Derek Lyle twice in the early stages.

Lyle should have put the home side in front early in the second half when he was left unattended in the area but could not steer his header on target.

Alloa almost took the lead shortly afterwards but Zander Clark

made a fine save to deny Mark Docherty.

But it was Queens who won it when Holt headed a Danny Carmichael cross beyond McDowall with 14 minutes left.

The race for play-off places is heating up with Raith Rovers salvaging a 2-2 draw at home to Falkirk when Ross Callachan scored in stoppage-time.

Falkirk took the lead from the penalty spot midway through the first half when John Baird netted against his former club after Rory Loy was tripped by Kevin Moon.

Raith levelled through an own goal from Will Vaulks after an hour but Falkirk looked to have won it when David McCracken headed home.

Callachan thought differently and turned Mark Stewart's cross past Jamie MacDonald at the end.

Cowdenbeath gained a valuable 2-1 win at Dumbarton as they seek to beat the drop.

Kudus Oyenuga, who had threatened throughout, struck the winning goal in a crowded penalty area after 73 minutes as Cowdenbeath staged a late smash-and-grab.

Dumbarton led at half-time when Scott Taggart took advantage of some slack defending.

Dumbarton were awarded a penalty when Garry Fleming was fouled in the penalty area but Robbie Thomson kept out Scott Agnew's spot-kick. It was the pivotal moment.

Cowdenbeath took full advantage and equalised shortly afterwards when Darren Brownlie netted his first goal for the club.

Worse was to follow for the home side when Oyenuga fired home the winner three minutes later.