Partick Thistle 3-0 Dumbarton

Steven Lawless struck a brace as Partick Thistle defeated Dumbarton to keep up the pressure at the top of the league.

Dumbarton almost went ahead after five minutes but Garry Fleming's strike hit a post and bounced out of play.

They were punished three minutes later as Steven Craig's cushioned header fed Lawless who volleyed in emphatically from 12 yards.

Mark Gilhaney threatened for the visitors minutes later but his fierce 18-yard drive was palmed away by Scott Fox.

Lawless made the points safe 16 minutes from the end when he latched on to Stephen O'Donnell's pass to lash into the top corner from 20 yards.

Kris Doolan added a third late on, converting from six yards after good work from substitute Christie Elliot.

Partick Thistle: Fox, Stephen O'Donnell, Muirhead, Balatoni, Sinclair, Craigen, Forbes (Elliot 63), Welsh, Lawless, Craig (Doolan 75), Bannigan (McGuigan 84).

Subs Not Used: Daniels, Archibald.

Booked: Bannigan.

Goals: Lawless 9, 74, Doolan 81.

Dumbarton: Grindlay, McGinn, Graham, Lithgow, Creaney (Lister 75), Gilhaney, Fleming (McCusker 82), Turner, Smith, McDougall, Winters (Agnew 67).

Subs Not Used: Ewings, Lamont.

Booked: Lithgow.

Att: 2,715

Ref: Iain Brines