Subs bring late surge as Watson secures a point
EAST FIFE 2 AIRDRIEONIANS 2
East Fife – Dunsmore (8), Watson (89); Airdrie – Gallacher (12, 28)
Craig Watson’s last-gasp equaliser secured the Methil men a point, which keeps them on the coat-tails of the League 1 pacesetters.
East Fife almost grabbed the lead with just three minutes on the clock.
After a spell of some really good build-up play, the hosts worked the ball to Ross Davidson on the edge of the box, but his shot dipped inches over the bar.
Five minutes later, Aaron Dunsmore ran into the Airdrie half without a challenge and he punished the Diamonds by sending a shot low into the corner.
The lead lasted barely a couple of minutes, though, Calum Gallacher nodding home from close range. The same man made it 2-1 shortly before the half-hour mark when he swept home a loose ball.
Fife boss Darren Young introduced Pat Slattery and Anton Dowds from the bench and the double substitution sparked new life into the home side.
They eventually pulled level when Watson was on hand to head home.
FORFAR 1 RAITH 1
Forfar – Forbes (8); Raith – Baird (71)
Forfar made the breakthrough after just eight minutes, visiting keeper Ross Munro gifting Ross Forbes the easiest of nodins after the Raith stopper fumbled a cross.
Raith should have equalised on 23 minutes, but Jamie Gullan screwed his 12-yard shot wide.
Raith started the second half strongly and Grant Anderson turned a flashing cross from Kieran Mcdonald just past the post.
Moments later, Dylan Tait missed a sitter that would have brought Raith level, but blasted over from four yards.
Luck was on Forfar’s side again in the 69th minute when ex-forfar assistant manager John Baird turned brilliantly in the box and lost his marker, only for his shot to crash back off the post.
But Baird did haunt his old club and rescued Rovers just two minutes later when he headed home a great equaliser from six yards.
PETERHEAD 1 FALKIRK 3
Peterhead – Durnan (og 26); Falkirk – Mcmanus (9, 24, pen 61)
Falkirk opened the scoring when a shot by Morgan Gomis was blocked by Mick Dunlop, but the ball broke to Declan Mcmanus, who drilled a low shot into the net from six yards.
It was 2-0 after 24 minutes with another slick move from the visitors, full-back Michael Doyle playing the ball in, and Aiden Connolly with the lay-off for Mcmanus to strike first time for his brace.
Peterhead brought themselves right back into it soon after with a Mark Durnan own goal from a downward Dunlop header.
Five minutes into the second half, Durnan should have made amends, but headed wide from a corner.
Falkirk’s third came after 61 minutes, defender David Ferguson barging over Aiden Connolly for a stonewall penalty and was dismissed.
Mcmanus rifled the ball from 12 yards down the middle for his hat-trick.