Gable Endies survive a late spot-kick scare
Montrose and visitors Airdrieonians served up an entertaining match, with honours ending even.
The hosts took the lead in only two minutes when Blair Lyons headed home from a corner.
Just minutes later, Airdrie’s Dylan Easton won the ball in midfield and pressed forward, only to see his shot clear the bar, before team-mate Adam Frizzell saw his shot tipped over by home keeper Allan Fleming.
Airdrie got a deserved equaliser on 25 minutes when Callum Smith headed into the net.
The second half was end-to-end, with Montrose taking the lead again after 68 minutes when Lyons latched on to a rebound to fire home.
Airdrie drew level again on 73 minutes when Calum Gallagher headed home.
There was drama just a minute later when Michael Gardyne handled the ball in the Montrose box, but Airdrie fans’ hopes of a winner were dashed when Dylan Easton fired over from the spot.
After 79 minutes, Airdrie substitute Jordan Allan broke clear on the right, but his chip beat Allan Fleming in the Gable Endies’ goal only to slip past the post.
FALKIRK 0 COVE RANGERS 2
League leaders Cove suffered an early blow when Rory Mcallister had to go off through injury after just eight minutes to be replaced by Leighton Mcintosh.
Falkirk threatened first when Steven Hetherington picked out Leigh Griffiths at the back post, but he volleyed wide from a difficult angle.
Mcintosh had a great chance to put Cove in front midway through the first half, but directed his shot too close to Robbie Mutch.
Griffiths had another chance on the stroke of half-time from Craig Mcguffie’s cross, but could not convert.
Cove took the lead on 54 minutes when Harry Milne headed home Shay Logan’s cross at the back post.
Milne then added the second six minutes later with a left-foot strike from outside the area, which left Mutch with no chance.
Jaze Kabia should have pulled a goal back late on, but could not steer Ryan Williamson’s cross on target. Stuart Mckenzie then pulled off a terrific save to keep out a Griffiths’ header.
QUEEN’S PARK 1 EAST FIFE 0
An injury-time penalty, converted by Luca Connell, booked Queen’s Park’s promotion play-off place and pushed East Fife closer to League 2.
Connell came within inches of giving Queen’s the lead on five minutes when he whipped in a free-kick that beat Jude Smith in the visiting goal, only to see it come bouncing back off the bar.
East Fife’s Kyle Connell had the next chance 10 minutes later when Leo Watson picked him out with a cross, however the striker’s header went over.
Bob Mchugh flicked on a cross for the in-rushing Louis Longridge on 28 minutes, but he fired wide.
Smith made a smart stop just before the hour mark when he got down to his left to stop a well-hit Connor Smith drive that had been deflected on its way to goal.
Simon Murray broke clear 17 minutes from time, but Smith was again the hero as he forced the substitute away from goal with his parting shot going wide.
In time added, Kieran Millar fouled Longridge, and Connell hit the spot-kick straight down the middle to collect the three points.
DUMBARTON 1 PETERHEAD 1
Dumbarton made a brilliant start, with Joshua Oyinsan opening the scoring after only five minutes when Conner Duthie played him in.
The home side had plenty of possession, but struggled to create many further chances, and paid the price for that when Russell Mclean headed the equaliser a minute from half-time.
Despite a high work rate from the two teams in the second half, few clear chances came the way of either, with the draw keeping Peterhead four points clear of Dumbarton.
ALLOA ATHLETIC 1 CLYDE 0
Alloa came close in the opening minutes of the game when Euan Henderson fired in a 30-yard free-kick that ex-alloa keeper Neil Parry stopped.
Clyde were also seeking an opener, and Lewis Jamieson came very close with a 35-yard free-kick, but Craig Howie managed to clear for a corner.
Alloa got a corner on 14 minutes and Conor Sammon touched the ball on to Euan Henderson, who was standing close to the goal. He tried to chest the ball into the net, but the ball went agonisingly wide.
Ross Maciver came close for the hosts when he fired in a right-foot shot from the centre of the box that went just over the bar.
Parry kept the visitors in the match with outstanding stops from Euan Henderson and Stefan Scougal.
Despite their best efforts, Clyde could not break through the strong home defence.
They paid the price midway through the second half when Ross Maciver ran on to a great pass from Conor Sammon and fired in a shot from the centre of the box.