EAST Fife lead an entertainingly unsettled division after a 4-1 win at Montrose, thanks largely to a Nathan Austin hat-trick.

Gary Fraser had given Montrose a 20th-minute lead but Austin’s long-range shot equalised before half time, after which Austin soon doubled his tally. When Montrose’s Gary Pascazio was dismissed in the 52nd minute, Scott Mercer soon netted the Methil side’s third before Austin completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute.

Second-placed Queen’s Park trail the new leaders by just two goals after they earned a 2-1 win at Stirling Albion. John Carter’s composed finish gave the Glasgow visitors a 23rd-minute breakthrough but Stirling equalised through Steven Doris.

Doris was denied a second in the 56th minute by the upright and within a minute Anthony Ralston had driven home Queen’s Park’s winner.

Annan Athletic slipped to third after a 1-1 draw with Elgin City. Steven Black headed Annan into a 40th-minute lead from Rabin Omar’s cross, but Elgin responded admirably.

Marc McKenzie hit the post for the visitors in the 85th minute before they equalised through Craig Gunn’s last-minute header.

Clyde failed to join the leaders on points after a 1-1 draw with Berwick Rangers.

Sean Higgins scored for Clyde in the 17th minute, only for Blair Henderson to level in the 68th minute, converting after a run by Dwayne Coultress.

Arbroath made it three consecutive wins with a 4-0 thrashing of East Stirling at Ochilview. Andy Ryan scored twice, Bobby Linn netted a penalty and Martin Grehan was on target to consign Shire to a fifth loss in a row.