WHATEVER Cammy Bell had expected before Dundee United's 3-1 win at Dunfermline, it was never getting a "hat-trick."

Yet the Dundee United goalkeeper was presented with the match ball afterwards – signed by his team-mates – as a double from Tony Andreu and an opener from Simon Murray had given them an important three points.

Bell had, uniquely, saved three first-half penalties from three different players (Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark and Paul McMullan) for arguably the most memorable day of his career.

"I won the League Cup with Kilmarnock, but this is another special moment and I can't stop smiling," the goalkeeper said.

"The three penalties seemed to happen very quickly, so that made it difficult. You always try to have a positive attitude when you're facing a penalty. The first one was a good save, although I knew Gavin [Reilly] favoured that side, and I just went with the run-up on the other two.

"I was struggling for the third one because my ankle was still hurting from a previous save.

"The lads insisted that I kept the match ball and they all signed it, but the main thing is getting the result for the team.

"Saving three penalties would have meant nothing if we hadn't won the game. This is a difficult place to come and get all three points."

McMullan, who missed the third penalty, countered: "I thought we controlled most of the game, but missing three penalties is a real kick in the teeth.

"They caught us with a sucker-punch at the start of the second half, but after we got one back so quickly, I definitely thought we were capable of getting another one."

Queen of the South continue to apply the pressure after a double from Derek Lyle and another from Stephen Dobbie gave them to a 3-1 win at St Mirren who have slumped to the bottom of the table.

"It is only five games into the league campaign and we have had a great start but as the gaffer keeps telling us we are only one defeat away from things turning the other way," pointed out Dobbie.

"But we are going well and into the next round of both cups too so we are happy and we want to keep things going well on a Saturday.

"It was nice to get a goal but I am not too bothered who actually scores them as long as results are going well and I will be happy if I don’t score any more but assist Derek Lyle in scoring 50 this season!"

But Lewis Morgan, perhaps St Mirren's best player on the day, admits the Paisley side have to start picking up points.

"We are giving away too many cheap goals and this is just giving us too much to do in games," he stated.

"But there is plenty of effort there and we have a good set of players to turn things around. The fans have every right to feel upset as the performances have just not been good enough."

Ayr United recorded their first league victory – 2-1 over Morton at Somerset Park with Paul Cairney and Alan Forrest on Target – and Falkirk moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win at Raith Rovers, John Baird and Tom Taiwo scoring.

Jack Ross's reaction to Alloa Athletic's 10-match winning streak coming to an end was simple.

"All we do is start another one," the Alloa manager said after his team were dismantled by Livingston in the first half at the Indodrill Stadium, eventually losing 3-1.

Putting together another 10-match winning run is easier said than done given that, after travelling to Queen's Park on Saturday, their next game is at Celtic Park in the Betfred Cup.

There is no doubt this result took the wind out of their sails. Scott Pittman, Liam Buchanan and Michael Miller had all scored before half-time and all Alloa had to show for the second half was a Greig Spence penalty.

Brechin City moved to the top of the league as they held off Airdrieonians 3-2 at Glebe Park. Brechin twice had their lead cancelled out before Dougie Hill scored what proved to be the winning goal.

There were first league wins of the season for Albion Rovers and Peterhead.

Albion overwhelmed Stenhousemuir with four second-half goals in a 4-0 win at Cliftonhill and manager Darren Young was pleased with what he saw: "We've been playing well all season but everything came together here."

Peterhead also scored their goals in the second half as they saw off Queen's Park, who missed a first-half penalty, 2-0 with Jamie Redman and Nicky Riley netting.

Jamie Insall scored both of East Fife's goals in a 2-0 home win over Stranraer with manager Gary Naysmith revealing a social night earlier in the week had helped build team spirit.

Forfar Athletic made it five wins out of five to go five points clear at the top of League Two with a 2-1 win at Annan Athletic.

Forfar trailed to a Max Wright penalty but hit back to take the points through Andy Munro and Lewis Milne.

It came after some strong words in the dressing-room at half-time but Munro believes the result was significant.

"I don't think Annan will lose many games at home so to beat them will send doubts into other team's minds about how good we are," he said.

"Teams like Arbroath and Clyde are the ones who have spent the big money but I'm not surprised at how well we've done.

"We have top players and I think we've shown we can compete at the top end.

"It's still early doors but we've won five out of five so I don't see why we can't sustain our strong start. We've just got to keep going."

Clyde moved second with a 3-2 home win over Arbroath with veteran striker Peter MacDonald scoring the decisive goal.

Edinburgh City picked up their first point since joining the SPFL with Ross Allum's 85th-minute strike earning them a 1-1 draw at Stirling Albion.

It moved them to within a point of second-bottom Montrose, who lost 2-1 at home to Cowdenbeath.