Second Division: Easton follows manager's orders with a goal to send Ayr top

Reid said: "It was a great day already when we had won, but to move to the top of the league is a real bonus. I had told Willie before the game he was due us a goal, so it was great that he delivered on that."

Despite holding on to a promotion play-off place at the moment, Alloa manager Allan Maitland knows it will be under severe threat when the teams below them start playing catch up with fifth-placed Forfar now having five games in hand.

Peterhead took the lead through Davie Ross in the first half and Ryan Strachan netted a penalty five minutes into the second half before Livingston's Robbie Winters was dismissed for a second yellow card. Strachan shot home a third with the aid of a deflection with 19 minutes to go.

Manager Neale Cooper said: "We are involved in a relegation fight but we showed what we are capable of. Livingston were top of the league and we fully deserved to beat them."

It was certainly a case of a point gained as opposed to two points lost for second-placed Brechin, as they came from behind twice to grab a point at Airdrie United. Full back Paul McLean crashed home a 20-yard shot with just three minutes remaining to ensure that Jim Weir's side got something for their efforts in a game that only came alive in the second-half.

Airdrie manager Jimmy Boyle brought on former Clyde, Dundee and Alloa front man Andy Ferguson at half time and the move brought instant dividends with Ferguson stabbing the ball home from close range just three minutes later. The Glebe Park men drew level within 60 seconds when Neil Janczyk curled home a low free-kick, but the Diamonds scored again when former Ross County and Liverpool youngster Gary Mackay-Steven marked his debut with a curling corner that looked to be on its way into goal when Eddie Forrest applied a finishing touch.

Weir's men refused to give up and were rewarded when McLean netted when he crashed home a right-foot effort from the edge of the box.

At the foot of the table Dumbarton are now five points adrift after Scott Dalziel's injury-time close-range goal secured a 1-0 win for second-bottom Stenhousemuir. Recently appointed Warriors boss Davie Irons said: "I learnt a lot today about the character of my players. We missed some chances early on but stuck at it and there was a huge difference from losing this game and going bottom to winning and going five points clear."Dumbarton's interim manager, Alan Adamson, groaned: "We certainly deserved a draw and that late goal was hard to take."

The Forfar and East Fife game was called off on Friday because of a frozen pitch at Station Park.