Praise for Tayport as leaders are denied

Tayport boss John Ovenstone praised his troops as they twice came from behind at the Canniepairt to share four goals and end leaders Sauchie’s 100% record.

He said: “We went into the match on the back of two poor results, but showed grit and determination to earn a good point.”

Ian Diack’s 35th-minute opener gave the visitors an interval advantage, but Port hit back after 71 minutes when Marc Ogg converted a spot-kick when Dale Reid was bundled over in the box.

Sauchie were back in front five minutes later through substitute Ryan Millar.

Port pressure told with Reid scoring a deserved 85thminute equaliser, and they almost won it in the last minute but keeper Greg Maitland kept out a Liam Ross effort.

In stoppage time, player/boss Ovenstone was sent off for a second yellow card offence.

Forfar West End edged Kennoway Star Hearts 2-1 at Strathmore Park to leapfrog the visitors into second place.

All the goals came in the first half with Matty Reynolds and Andy Wells firing the Angus side into a two-goal lead. Kyle Wilson was Hearts’ scorer.

Downfield and St Andrews served up a thriller at Downfield Park, the hosts emerging 4-2 winners.

Both sides missed a penalty, with the pivotal moment coming early in the second half.

It was all-square at 1-1 when Saints’ Barry Sibanda clattered the ball off the face of the bar and the Spiders raced to the other end to take the lead.

Although Sibanda did cancel that out midway through the half, a disputed goal put the hosts back in front and they added a fourth late on as the visitors chased the game.

Jordan Austin was the other Saints scorer. Downfield’s goals came from Kevin Milne (2), a Craig Smith penalty and Marc O’Leary.

Violet notched their first win in style with a 6-1 demolition of Glenrothes at Glenesk.

Goals from Kit Bremner and Craig Batchelor gave then a two-goal interval advantage.

A quick-fire Kevin Scott brace just after the hour put the outcome beyond doubt with Scott Tovey and George Duncan adding two more.

The Fifers’ sole crumb of comfort was James Russell’s stoppage time penalty.