Hamilton stretched their unbeaten run to 16 games with a 1-0 victory over Brechin to open a three-point lead over Cowdenbeath in the Third Division promotion race.

Hamilton should have gone in front in the 21st minute, but Derek Soutar did well to save Stuart Callaghan's spot-kick after Greig Smith had pulled down Michael Moore.

Roddy Grant and Blair Sturrock had chances to put Brechin in front before Hamilton opened the scoring in the 53rd minute.

Callaghan floated the free-kick high into the box where Moore and Grant challenged for the ball, but the Brechin striker nudged the ball past his own keeper.

Jim Sherry and Allan Russell scorned good chances to increase Hamilton's lead in the closing stages, but Brechin skipper Harry Cairney almost snatched a point when he flicked a Coulston corner inches past the far post.