Rovers on top after humdinger derby
east FIFE 3 raith rovers 5
East Fife – Agnew (28), Dowds (61), Wallace (71); Raith – Gullan (8, 90), Macdonald (21, 37), Tait (54)
Raith had to fend off a fierce East Fife comeback to take all three points from this Kingdom derby.
It was Raith who drew first blood, Jamie Gullan sweeping home Jamie Watson’s deep cross. There was an element of fortune about Raith’s second goal, Kieran Macdonald’s cross looping over Brett Long and into the net. East Fife managed to claw some ground back just a few minutes later, with Scott Agnew’s terrific free-kick beating Munro.
John Mcglynn’s men reinstated their two-goal advantage when Macdonald slammed a terrific finish beyond Long.
Then it was 4-1, Dylan Tait racing clear inside the box and sending a neat finish past Long.
The hosts refused to give up and grabbed their second of the game through Dowds. Then Ryan Wallace further reduced the deficit with an excellent 18-yard finish.
However, Raith secured No. 5 in stoppage time through Gullan to finish the year top of the league.
airdrieonians 1 FALKIRK 1
Airdrieonians – Carrick (pen 38); Falkirk – Mcmillan (34)
Lewis Toshney was lucky not to see red in 26 minutes after taking Callum Smith down just outside the box. Sean Crighton’s free-kick hit the defensive wall with shouts of handball from the home fans before the ball was cleared.
Falkirk led on 34 minutes after Airdrie’s David Hutton made two great saves. David Mcmillan then latched on to a loose ball to fire the ball high into the net.
Soon after, a free-kick by the home side saw Gregor Buchanan handle a volley and Dale Carrick fired in the leveller rom the spot.
In the second half, home substitute Craig Thomson fired a curling effort against the bar after a run from wide right.
Forfar 2 Montrose 3
Forfar – Forbes (14), Mackintosh (33); Montrose – R. Campbell (12), Webster (63), Steeves (90)
Ross Forbes went close for Forfar with a dipping effort that whizzed over the bar, but it was Montrose who broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.
Terry Masson played a quick free-kick through to Ross Campbell as Forfar were still protesting and the former Loons star expertly clipped the ball over the keeper from an acute angle.
The hosts levelled soon after, Forbes drilling low into the bottom corner. Mccallum pulled off a tremendous save to deny Montrose, then Gary Irvine blocked the follow-up from Andrew Steeves.
Forfar hit the visitors with a taste of their own medicine in the 33rd minute with a sharplytaken free-kick just outside the box that was squared to Murray Mackintosh in front of goal and he sidefooted home from five yards. The game swung back towards Montrose in the second half and they levelled in the 63rd minute when Graham Webster got on the end of a free-kick from Lewis Milne to head in off the post.
With just 60 seconds left, the Gable Endies grabbed the winner with a close-range finish from Steeves, capitalising on some poor defending from the home side.
Peterhead 2 CLYDE 0
Lyle (30), S Brown (85)
In torrential rain and a howling gale,the visitors, with manager Danny Lennon listed on the bench, had a good chance on the break in the ninth minute, a long clearance out of defence sending David Goodwillie clear, but his low shot from an angle was gathered by Greg Fleming at the second attempt.
The next chance also fell to the visitors after 25 minutes, an inswinging corner from the left by Ally Love was met by the head of defender Alex Petkov, but Fleming went down to smother the effort.
Peterhead broke the deadlock on the half-hour, Ben Armour stroking a beautifully-weighted pass square across the six-yard line to Derek Lyle at the back post and he dispatched the ball home.
Fifteen minutes from the end, Clyde broke clear and it took a brave save from Greg Fleming to deny Darren Smith.
In the 85th minute, though, it was game over. Substitute Rory Mcallister cut inside and set up Brown, who thrashed his shot into the net from 12 yards to seal a crucial victory and end the year on a high.
Things then kicked off in the dying seconds, with Peterhead midfielder Simon Ferry being shown a straight red for a dangerous foot-up challenge – sparking a mass brawl involving all 22 players.
Dumbarton 1 stranraer 1
Dumbarton – Scullion (85); Stranraer – Hilton (88)
The first half was a very scrappy affair with both sides struggling to make a clear-cut chance.
At the start of the second half, Stuart Carswell had a chance for the home side, but was eventually crowded out by the visiting defenders.
Going into the final five minutes, the game exploded into life when Joe Mckee fired in from the edge of the box and Ryan Tierney turned the ball home.
The Sons’ lead lasted just three minutes, though, as Stranraer immediately rallied and levelled as James Hilton’s looping header found the back of the net.