United scrape win

DUNDEE UNITED moved into the last eight of the Irn-Bru Cup but they had to graft for victory.

Stranraer went toe-to-toe with them at Stair Park but ultimately Tony Andreu gave United a 1-0 victory. Andreu struck the post in a first half in which Cameron Belford resisted two decent efforts from Simon Murray.

The only goal came after 68 minutes when Andreu headed Dundee United in front after a great run from Paul Dixon.

There were mixed fortunes for Welsh sides in the competition with The New Saints winning 3-1 at Forfar but Alloa

Athletic easing past Bala Town in Wales. Forfar played second fiddle for much of their game and were hit by a Greg Draper hat-trick.

Alloa Athletic had earlier beaten Bala Town in what was Jack Ross’s last game as manager before he takes over the reins at St Mirren tomorrow.

Greig Spence scored twice in a onesided first half and Jon Robertson and Kevin Cawley also found the net. Bala Town pulled a goal back when Lee Hunt netted a 58th-minute penalty after Scott Taggart fouled Chris Venables, while Stuart J Jones beat Neil Parry with a header late on to make it 4-2.

Dunfermline Athletic squeezed past Queen’s Park 2-1 at East End Park. After a poor first half, El Alagui finally gave Dunfermline supporters something to cheer when he fired home from close range early in the second half.

El Alagui headed a second goal from Joe Cardle’s cross midway through the second half. The Moroccan then gifted Queen’s Park a consolation, heading into his own net from a corner. In the only remaining fourth round tie,

Queen of the South host Linfield today. In League Two, Elgin City beat Edinburgh City 2-1 to move second in the table.

Chris Dodd and Thomas Reilly both scored in the first half and Dougie Gair netted a late penalty for the capital side.