LEAGUE TWO
It’s seven up for rampant Peterhead
JIM McINALLY was in fine spirits after watching his Peterhead side thump Elgin 7-0 to move within a point of leaders Montrose.
Rory McAllister opened the scoring at Balmoor in 27 minutes with a free-kick before Peterhead came alive with the wind at their back after the interval.
Jordon Brown slammed home from 18 yards before City keeper Iain Ross was forced off injured just after the hour.
Nicky Riley put a third beyond replacement Marc Waters from the edge of the area before Jamie Stevenson tapped in, then scored off the underside of the bar.
Mason Robertson struck from close range and Russell McLean headed home the seventh with just three minutes remaining.
McInally said: “We knew the wind was going to play a part and the secret was to get to half-time still in the game. To go in 1-0 was a bonus. If the players work as hard as that they’re hard to live with.”
Elgin boss Gavin Price said: “We were unfortunate to be down at half time but the reaction to losing the second was embarrassing. Some of the goals we lost towards the end were pretty farcical.”
Stewart Petrie was frustrated after his Montrose side were held 1-1 by bottom club Cowdenbeath.
They broke the deadlock in 68 minutes when Gary Fraser headed home but Cowdenbeath levelled 10 minutes from time when Robert Buchanan followed up a Matthew McInally shot that was deflected on to the post.
Petrie said: “Cowdenbeath came with a gameplan and it worked. They made it difficult but we lacked quality in the final third.”
An Ashley Grimes goal and Scott Shepherd’s quickfire double sealed Edinburgh City’s 3-0 success over Berwick Rangers, their first win since September.
At Stenhousemuir, second-half strikes from Martin Scott and Ross Meechan secured a 2-1 win over Stirling Albion who scored late through Darren Smith.
Annan nicked a point in a goalless draw at Clyde despite playing 84 minutes with just 10 men after Jack Brannan walked for a clash with Darren Ramsay.
Robinson was the shining light in a controversial clash spoiled by the sick Falkirk fans who abused Dean Shiels.
There was always going to be an edge to this derby after Bairns duo Joe McKee and Kevin O’Hara copped lengthy bans for mocking Shiels about his missing eye back in October.
This time it was the fans who let Falkirk down as their side crashed to defeat.
On the park it was the Pars who triumphed and keeper Robinson made a stunning debut after being snapped up over New Year having been axed by Queen of the South.
He made two crucial saves before half-time and continued his heroics after the break.
And strikes from Nicky Clark and Declan McManus gave Dunfermline the points to remain in the play-off places.
Pars boss Allan Johnston said: “I had no qualms about throwing Lee straight in.
“I had him at Queens and he was outstanding in the year when we won the league and the cup. He was a big part of that.
“He’s really agile as you can see from some of his saves and he is great at distribution.
“I’m sure that performance will do wonders for his confidence and he will create competition.
“Lee is just in the door and he made really important saves.
“But everybody did well and that’s the standard they have to set week in, week out.
“That’s the right way to start the new year, getting a win against your rivals and getting a performance as well.
“I don’t think anybody could say we didn’t deserve that. We looked threatening. The strikers caused all sorts of problems.
“Discipline was important, especially with everything going on around the game. It was a really good atmosphere though.
“It was important for us to get a good win for our fans. It’s good to give them something to shout about, some bragging rights when they go back into work.”
The Pars were ahead in 16 minutes when McManus rolled a pass to Clark on the edge of the box.
Robbie Mutch got a hand to Clark’s right foot-shot and probably should have kept it out but the ball squeezed in.
Clark might have bagged a hat-trick before half-time. He was just too high with a header from Jason Talbot’s cross in 23 minutes then fired over from 14