Partick closed the gap on the Saints, who were held 0-0 at Raith on Friday, as Stanway’s first-half free-kick into the top corner made it three straight home league wins for Mark Wilson’s side.

Arbroath kept pace with the top two with their first league win in three matches as won 4-2 against Dunfermline at Gayfield Park.

Ryan Dow’s early header for Arbroath was soon cancelled out by Andrew Tod before Aaron Muirhead headed the home side back in front early in the second half.

Deniz Mehmet’s own goal in the 67th minute put the Red Lichties 3-1 up and, although Josh Cooper pulled one back for the Pars, Findlay Marshall rifled home Arbroath’s fourth to seal all three points.

Arbroath midfielder Jacob MacIntyre, on loan from Hibernian, was sent off for his second yellow card in time added on.

Ayr lost ground on Partick and Arbroath after being held 0-0 at home by Ross County and Queen’s Park climbed four points clear of the bottom two after a 3-2 home win against Greenock Morton.

The visitors led through Matthew Shiels’ own goal before Nikolay Todorov equalised six minutes later and after Henry Fieldson’s second-half effort for Queen’s Park was cancelled out by Iain Wilson, Aidan Connolly fired the Spiders’ winner.