SPL wrap: Aberdeen rise up table, Heffernan fires Kilmarnock

Aberdeen joined Celtic on top of the SPL table after thumping struggling St Mirren 4-1, while Kilmarnock accounted for Ross County.

Goals from Jonathan Hayes, Niall McGinn, Chris Clark and Mark Reynolds ensured victory for the visitors and a share of top spot provisionally alongside the defending champions and Hibernian.

Aberdeen broke the deadlock just 10 minutes into the match at St Mirren Park on Saturday with Hayes unleashing a half-volley past a helpless Craig Samson in goal.

Craig Brown’s men doubled their advantage right before the break through McGinn, who netted his fourth goal in as many league games.

The hosts had a penalty appeal turned down in the second half when Dougie Imrie found himself on the ground after a challenge from goal scorer Clark.

Aberdeen then wrapped up the game in the closing minutes thanks to a quick-fire double-act from Clark and Reynolds before Steven Thomson netted a consolation goal as St Mirren suffered a fifth successive defeat.

At Rugby Park, Paul Heffernan was the hero as Kilmarnock recorded a routine 3-0 victory over Ross County.

Heffernan netted a brace in the final half-hour, while Gary Harkins found himself among the goals in a dominant second-half display.

In other Scottish Premier League results on Saturday, basement side Dundee held hosts Motherwell to a surprise 1-1 draw, while a 90th-minute penalty from Marius Zaliukas cancelled out Owain Tudur-Jones’ earlier effort as Hearts salvaged a dramatic point at fourth-placed Inverness CT.