Royal show from Queen’s as Falkirk falter
FALKIRK 0 Queen’s Park hit Falkirk for six at Firhill, with the hosts showing their hunger in the first minute when Connor Smith was denied by Paddy Martin.
The Falkirk shot-stopper was beaten three minutes later, though, when he blocked Luca Connell’s initial effort and Louis Longridge netted the rebound.
Martin was called into action again on 33 minutes as he stopped a Longridge shot, then jumped back into action to keep out Bob Mchugh.
A second goal arrived two minutes later when Liam Brown tried his luck from 18 yards and a deflection helped it on its way.
Falkirk came within inches of getting back into the game in the early stages of the second half when Callumn Morrison curled a shot past Callum Ferrie, only to see it strike a post.
Queen’s regained control and grabbed a third on 65 minutes when Brown drilled home again.
The home side’s advantage was increased to four three minutes later when Connell accepted a pass from Longridge and fired past Martin.
Charlie Fox hit No. 5 when he shot into the net from a corner on 77 minutes, and Luis Longstaff capitalised on a defensive mistake to complete the scoring six minutes from time.
COVE RANGERS 2 DUMBARTON 0
Cove Rangers moved five clear at the top of the League 1 table with a professional display that secured victory in blustery conditions.
There was a big shout for a penalty from the home support halfway through the first half when Mitch Megginson appeared to have been clipped by Sons skipper Stuart Carswell, but referee but referee Chris Fordyce was unmoved.
Home keeper Stuart Mckenzie was brought into action to keep out two very different efforts from Eoghan Stokes and Conner Duthie respectively, but, with the wind at his back, he was largely untroubled.
Morgyn Neill got on the end of a deep cross from Fraser Fyvie, but his unorthodox effort was grabbed on the line by Sam Ramsbottom.
Ten minutes before the break, Connor Scully’s volley was blocked, sparking a flurry of efforts as Fyvie saw his follow-up effort repelled before Iain Vigurs dragged his shot wide.
The visitors took advantage of the conditions early in the second half, with Stokes rattling a shot off the post, then bringing out a fingertip save from Mckenzie.
However, it was Cove who were to break the deadlock. Halfway through the second period, a Megginson cross was cleared only as far as Fyvie and the man of many clubs made no mistake with a well-struck half-volley into the far corner of the net.
The points were secure when Shay Logan fed the ball into the path of Vigurs to slot past Ramsbottom.
CLYDE 2 PETERHEAD 2
Clyde’s Ally Love sent in a low drive from 20 yards on seven minutes, which Brett Long had to stretch to push around for a corner.
However, it was the Blue Toon who took the lead on 16 minutes. Andrew Mccarthy caused panic with a surging run and, as the home rearguard struggled to clear, Brown picked out Russell Mclean who netted via the bar from six yards.
Clyde’s Robert Jones was booked for simulation in the box before the visitors’ lead was doubled on 26 minutes when Mclean surged down the left and picked out Grant Savoury, who sidefooted home.
Long made a fine stop from a Jones header, but the visiting shotstopper tripped David Goodwillie in first-half time-added and the home skipper blasted in the resultant penalty.
Goodwillie brought Clyde level on 52 minutes when he cut past Flynn Duffy on the right and curled a shot into the far corner.
As the Bully Wee looked to fully turn things around, Long had to dive low to touch a Goodwillie drive past just before the hour mark, with Mclean responding with a terrific shot that rattled the crossbar.
Josh Mulligan had a late chance to win the three points for the visitors, but lofted his shot wide.
EAST FIFE 1 ALLOA 1
Stevie Crawford’s second reign as manager of East Fife started with a hard-earned point against Alloa.
The Wasps settled into the game well and were unlucky not to open the scoring in the fifth minute when the Fifers failed to clear their lines and the ball dropped kindly to Stefan Scougall. Scougall had time to pick his spot, but failed to hit the target.
East Fife had to wait until nearly the 20-minute mark to create their first chance, the Alloa defence scrambling clear a Chris Higgins header.
It was a first half which won’t live long in the memory, neither keeper being seriously troubled.
The Wasps started the second half well and only a terrific fingertip save from Jude Smith denied Euan Henderson.
Henderson wouldn’t be denied a second time, though, racing through the heart of the Fife defence and beating Smith just a minute later.
The Bayview outfit tried to respond and a Scott Mecer freekick pulled a comfortable save out of David Hutton.
The home side’s hopes were given a boost with just over quarter-of-an-hour to go when Alloa’s Craig Howie picked up his second booking.
They made their numerical advantage count almost immediately, Jamie Semple hauling the Fifers level.