Darren Dods grabbed the equaliser as Brechin avoided defeat to Airdrieonians at the fourth attempt this season in a 3-3 draw.

Airdrieonians had already beaten their hosts three times in all competitions and were on course to do so again when Jim Lister headed them in front in the 13th minute with his second goal in successive league games.

Bottom-of-the-table Brechin levelled 11 minutes later when on-loan Dunfermline midfielder Lewis Spence marked his debut with a goal, beating Rohan Ferguson with a right-foot shot.

Sean Crighton put Airdrieonians in control with two goals in three minutes just before half-time, though, first firing in from inside the area and then heading into the top corner from Nicky Cadden's pass.

Robert Thomson's headed goal gave Brechin hope five minutes into the second half and Dods completed the comeback in the 80th minute with a headed leveller.

Jordan Preston scored a first-half hat-trick as Ayr returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Albion Rovers in the League One clash at Cliftonhill.

The on-loan Blackburn striker took his goal tally to 10 for the season after netting a quick-fire brace early on, first slotting into the bottom corner and then collecting Ryan Stevenson's cross just outside the box and firing into the top of the net to double the lead as the away side made the most of their early chances.

The hosts lost John Gemmell through injury midway through the first half - he was replaced by Callum McRobbie - and Preston was not finished yet as he headed home his side's third from close range two minutes before the break.

The home side also lost Paul Willis due to injury just before the hour mark and Ayr continued to dominate after the break with Michael Wardrope hitting the woodwork deep into the second half, but Albion managed to grab a late consolation as Ally Love netted into the bottom corner after 89 minutes.

Leaders Dunfermline blew the chance for a sixth-straight Scottish League One victory by drawing a blank at Peterhead.

The stubborn hosts, themselves on a fine run of four wins on the trot, frustrated runaway leaders Dunfermline who were unable to break the deadlock in the 0-0 draw and further consolidate control of the division.

The 1-0 Scottish FA Cup replay defeat at Premiership opponents Ross County could perhaps account for Dunfermline's sluggish showing here.

Faissal El Bakhtaoui wasted a great chance when through on goal, before Sean Murdoch was called into action for the league leaders, saving a fine effort from range by Jamie Stevenson.

Shane Sutherland saw an effort saved low down by Graeme Smith, but Dunfermline were unable to claim a win for the first time since November.

Stranraer moved to within a point of Cowdenbeath after a well-deserved 2-0 victory at Central Park.

No side had started the weekend with fewer goals in Scottish League One than Stranraer but Willie Gibson's free-kick and a Craig Malcolm penalty helped them edge further away from the relegation zone.

Greig Spence wasted a good chance for Cowdenbeath early on when he shot wide from close range and he had the ball in the net in the 30th minute but was flagged offside.

Stranraer's Craig Malcolm saw a shot roll agonisingly wide of the far post while Andy Stirling had a shot parried by Grant Adam.

The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Paul Cairney was fouled by Fraser Kerr just outside the area and Gibson fired in the free-kick for his first goal since August.

Kerr was again the culprit 20 minutes later when Stirling was brought down and Malcolm converted the spot-kick to make the points safe.

Forfar remain without a league win since September 12 after Stephen Stirling's first-half goal clinched a 1-0 victory for Stenhousemuir.

Forfar started the match brightly but failed to convert any of their early chances, with Iain Campbell, Michael Travis and Andy Ryan all testing Stenhousemuir keeper Graham Bowman.

The breakthrough came in first-half injury time when Mark Gilhaney found Stirling and he beat Darren Hill for his first league goal for the club.

The home side pushed for an equaliser in the second half but failed to score for a third time in four home league games.

Gavin Swankie threatened on a couple of occasions and Thomas O'Brien had an attempt on goal in injury time but Bowman could not be beaten.