Falkirk fail to counter Hamilton’s muscle
EAST FIFE 2
FALKIRK 1 East Fife stunned the league leaders with a terrific victory at Bayview.
Darren Young’s Methil men have yet to taste defeat in the league at home this term, but the visit of the Bairns would provide that record with its toughest test.
Goals from Kevin Smith and Jack Hamilton ensured it remained intact, despite Callumn Morrison’s strike for the visitors.
The game got off to a bright start with both sides enjoying decent spells in possession.
Falkirk looked dangerous down the wings, while the Fifers were more direct through the middle.
The hosts had an early glimpse of goal when Pat Slattery broke clear, but couldn’t get a shot away.
On the 20-minute mark, it was the Fifers who drew first blood, Smith prodding a loose ball home after Scott Agnew’s free-kick couldn’t be cleared.
East Fife held their advantage for barely seconds of the second half with the visitors wasting no time in pulling level.
Conor Sammon raced in behind the home defence, but his low drive was beaten away by Brett Long. First to react was Callumn Morrison, who made no mistake from close range.
East Fife responded well and had a goal chopped off when Danny Denholm drifted into an offside position.
But they grabbed the game’s third goal on 69 minutes when a deep cross from Smith was met by Hamilton, who outmuscled the visiting defence and beat Robbie Mutch.
COVE RANGERS 1 PETERHEAD 0
Twenty years on from their last Highland League clash, Cove Rangers claimed the three points in the first SPFL league encounter between these sides from the north-east.
The only goal of the game arrived in the second minute and, true to script, it was Rory Mcallister who found the back of the net against his former club.
Fraser Fyvie’s dangerous free-kick was flicked past Josh Rae by the head of the experienced marksman.
The visitors’ task became even tougher 20 minutes later when Simon Ferry’s lunging tackle to halt Mitch Megginson as he raced towards goal resulted in a straight red card.
Steven Boyd picked up a yellow card for trying to insist that Jordan Brown was covering the former Celt.
Mcallister could have added a second just before the half-hour when he blasted over from six yards, then Rae made a fine save to deny Jamie Masson.
The half-time cuppa clearly didn’t cool Boyd’s temper and, seven minutes into the second half, a further blast at the referee resulted in a red card, leaving Peterhead with just nine men.
Jim Mcinally’s men dug in and, thanks to some good goalkeeping, ensured they were always in with a chance of grabbing a point, but they understandably lacked the energy to threaten.
This win moves Cove back into second place, just two points behind Falkirk.
MONTROSE 0 FORFAR 0
Montrose almost took the lead in the opening minute when a curling effort from Graham Webster was brilliantly saved by Marc Mccallum.
In 11 minutes, Scott Shepherd went close for Forfar with a shot which went just wide.
Montrose had most of the play in the first half and Chris Mochrie crossed for Kerr Waddell to head wide, then a sweeping move ended with Craig Johnston having a drive saved.
In 23 minutes, Webster sent a drive just wide of the post, then, five minutes later, Johnston worked a one-two with Lewis Milne and his drive was saved.
On the half-hour, Ballantyne got to the byeline and his cross was put over from close range by Mochrie.
Sean Dillon was next to be denied by the busy Mccallum, then, in 38 minutes, Milne put the ball wide when he should have scored.
In 50 minutes, Mochrie went on a solo run and an Andy Steeves shot was deflected wide.
Forfar came more into the game and Murray Mcintosh shot inches wide, then a Florent Hoti drive was bound for the bottom corner until Alan Fleming saved.