Hamilton maintain top spot in League One with comprehensive win over Montrose

Hamilton maintained top spot in William Hill League One with a comfortable 4-0 win at Montrose, who had Ross Clark sent off late on.

Midfielder Kyle MacDonald’s goal midway through the first half was followed by Oli Shaw’s eighth in seven games, with efforts from Steven Bradley and – after the red card – Lee Kilday.

That improved their goal difference, which is keeping them top of the table ahead of Stenhousemuir.

Hamilton’s nearest rivals registered a seventh win in eight matches as Matthew Aiken’s penalty early in the second half saw them beat bottom side Cove Rangers 1-0.

Third-placed Inverness salvaged a 2-2 draw from 2-0 down to second-bottom Kelty Hearts as Danny Devine and Chanka Zimba scored either side of half-time after Innes Murray had scored twice, one a penalty.

Fourth-placed Alloa remain ahead of East Fife, a point behind them, after Luke Rankin’s 56th-minute goal was cancelled out by Michael McKenna’s penalty four minutes later.

As a result, Peterhead moved into fifth place after a 3-0 win over Queen of the South with goals from Kieran Shanks, Craig McGuffie and Jason Brown.

League Two leaders Spartans maintained their three-point cushion at the top with a 2-1 win at Dumbarton, with Bradley Whyte and Marc McNulty scoring in the first half, either side of Leighton McIntosh’s equaliser.

Second-placed East Kilbride opened up a four-point gap to third-placed Clyde after Connor Young scored twice in the opening seven minutes, with Nathan Flanagan wrapping up a 3-0 victory as early as the 31st minute.

Clyde were held to a goalless draw at Forfar, while fourth-placed Stirling recorded a 1-1 draw at Annan, who saw Keith Watson’s sixth-minute goal cancelled out by Ryan Shanley just past the hour.

In the clash of the bottom two, Stranraer won their second league game of the season with a 3-1 victory at Edinburgh City.

Finn Ecrepont’s first two goals of the season were supplemented by an effort by Daniel McManus, after Innes Lawson had briefly made it 2-1 for the winless hosts.