THERE will be a few more twists and turns as a fascinating battle unfolds for promotion play-off places from the Championship but the latest one saw Queen of the South advance their case after a 5-0 win at Cowdenbeath.

A hat-trick from Derek Lyle put the Doonhamers in command while Gavin Reilly and Ian McShane were also on target to plunge the Blue Brazil deeper into relegation trouble.

James Fowler, the victorious manager, declared: "It was a good performance and an important result.

"Derek has shown his quality with three well taken goals."

The win was enough to take Queens a point ahead of Falkirk who were held to a 3-3 draw by Dumbarton.

In a match which saw the lead change hands three times, the Bairns needed a late equaliser from David Smith to salvage a point against a Sons side who ended a run of four straight defeats.

Despite the late goal, Peter Houston, the Falkirk manager, said: "It feels like two points dropped.

"The players know they never got near the level they need to be at."

Ian Murray, the Dumbarton manager, said: "It's a great point after a tough spell."

In League One, Dunfermline may have breathed new life into their promotion campaign after a 2-0 over Ayr United at Somerset Park.

The Pars had failed to win in six games but debutant David Hopkirk made one and scored one before saying: "I want to do my best for the club and I believe we can get promoted and can even win the title yet.

"People have been saying we had not won for a few games but hopefully we can go on a run now and start to challenge.

"My goal was an easy one and I just placed it but it was important as it helped clinch the points late on."

Despite the win, Dunfermline are still outside the top four where Stranraer continue to set the pace thanks to Frank McKeown's winner against Stirling Albion at Stair Park.

Morton leapfrogged Forfar Athletic to claim second place after a 2-1 win at Station Park, while Brechin City extended their unbeaten run to fourteen games but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Airdrieonians.

With games in hand, Peterhead remain well placed to challenge for promotion, a 2-0 win over Stenhousemuir leaving them just two points off the pace. Albion Rovers were the big winners in League Two, the Coatbridge club first working hard to get their crunch clash against Queens Park on after two pitch inspections.

A 2-1 victory made the effort worthwhile before they received an unexpected bonus with news that leaders Arbroath had been held to a 1-1 draw by East Fife.

Annan Athletic occupy the final promotion play-off spot despite a 2-1 defeat at Montrose, while ten-man Berwick Rangers went down to a 2-0 defeat against Elgin City at Shielfield Park. That result, combined with East Stirlingshire's 2-1 loss to Clyde, was sufficient to see the Borough Briggs side move off the foot of the table.