Arbroath continued their charge for an immediate return to the William Hill Championship with a 1-0 victory at Montrose on a day when their two closest rivals both lost.

The Red Lichties defeated second-placed Cove Rangers last time out to move eight points clear and they extended that advantage to 11 points on Saturday, with only five games left this season.

Ryan Flynn netted the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time, with Arbroath then receiving a further boost at full-time with the news Cove and third-placed Stenhousemuir had both suffered heavy home defeats.

Cove were beaten 3-0 by Inverness thanks to a hat-trick from teenager Keith Braym, while Stenhousemuir went down 4-1 to Alloa, for whom Luke Donnelly, Stefan Scougall (two) and Josh Gentles struck.

Dumbarton, who last month became the first team in the SPFL this season to be relegated, belied their lowly position by thrashing Kelty Hearts 6-0 on the road.

Six different players got on the scoresheet for the Sons – Joel Mumbongo, Kalvin Orsi, Carlo Pignatiello, Michael Ruth, Matthew Shiels and Craig McGuffie – against a Kelty side who had Ross Cunningham sent off midway through the second half.

Queen of the South ensured there was a clean sweep of away victories in League One with their 2-0 win at Annan.

In League Two, Oliver Colloty’s hat-trick helped leaders Peterhead brush aside rock-bottom Bonnyrigg Rose 5-0 as they moved four points clear at the summit.

The 21-year-old New Zealander struck twice in the first half before completing his first Blue Toon treble two minutes into the second.

Dylan Forrest and Adam Carnwath completed the rout as Peterhead took full advantage of second-placed East Fife’s surprise defeat at lowly Forfar, for whom Reuben McAllister struck an early winner.

Edinburgh City closed the gap on East Fife to four points with a 2-1 win over Clyde, Ouzy See netting a brace, while Saturday’s other League Two game saw Spartans beat Stranraer 2-1.