Dumbarton ended a run of four straight defeats with an easy win at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium – and delivered a blow to Alloa’s Second Division title hopes.

Allan Maitland’s side went into this match protecting a 10-game unbeaten sequence, but rarely looked like extending it.

Instead, Jim Chapman’s Sons looked livelier from the start and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 17th minute.

Ben Gordon raced to the near post to meet David Winters’ cross with a looping header over David Crawford in goal.

The second half went much the way of the first and Dumbarton struck twice within 11 minutes of the restart to make the points safe.

Alan Cook doubled the lead with a free-kick which beat the defensive wall. Worse followed for the visitors when Scott Walker was shown a second yellow card for upending Dennis Wyness in the box and Ross Clark scored from the spot.

Alloa did register after Chris Smith could only deflect a corner into his own net, but there was no way back by then.

In the First Division, an Adam Rooney hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Queen of the South took Inverness to within six points of pacesetters Dundee.

Raith Rovers inflicted a huge dent to Ross County’s promotion ambitions with a 2-1 win, while a late penalty from Dunfermline’s Willie Gibson cancelled out Ricky Waddell’s first-half strike in the 1-1 draw at Airdrie United.

In the Third Division, Queen’s Park beat Forfar 1-0, while Albion Rovers demolished Berwick Rangers 4-1 at Cliftonhill. Leaders Livingston beat East Stirling 2-0 at home.