Leaders score first but Annan reply with six

Leaders Cove Rangers had their worst day since becoming a league club in the summer as they lost 6-1 at Annan, writes Craig P Stewart.

The day had started brightly for Paul Hartley’s side with Jamie Masson firing them ahead on eight minutes but it was downhill all the way after that.

Nathan Flannagan lobbed in an equaliser and Annan led 3-1 at the break thanks to Broque Watson’s tidy finish and a penalty from Tommy Muir.

Muir netted a second penalty on 56 minutes and Niyah Joseph added the fifth before Cove’s Declan Glass was redcarded for a stamp with Muir completing the scoring, and his hat-trick, from two yards.

Annan manager Peter Murphy said: “I have been waiting for a performance like that and it was great to get it against the league leaders. It will do a lot for the confidence of our squad.”

Second-placed Edinburgh

City failed to take advantage of Cove’s hammering as they went down 2-1 to Queen’s Park at Hampden.

Jack Purdue fired the Spiders into a first half lead and Salim Kouider-aissa thumped in their second six minutes from time with Allan Smith hitting an injury time consolation.

Stirling Albion enjoyed a 2-1 win at Elgin thanks to substitute Josh Peters’ injury time goal. Dylan Bikey swept the visitors in front on 33 minutes with Stephen Bronsky nodding in an equaliser on 78 minutes but Peters stabbed home a winner.

Bottom side Brechin City lost2-1tovisitorsstenhousemuir who had Dylan Dykes to thank for their success. Alan Cook fired in to give the Warriors the lead on 16 minutes and Ryan Mccord’s header had restored parity five minutes into the restart with Dykes’ 20-yard curling winner coming 20 minutes from time.

The meeting between Albion Rovers and Cowdenbeath was called off.