First-half strikes keep Diamonds in mix
AIRDRIEONIANS 2 QUEEN’S PARK 0
Airdrieonians hit two first-half goals against fourth-placed Queen’s Park to keep their promotion ambitions alive.
After some close calls around the visiting goal, the home side eventually broke the deadlock in 38 minutes. Callum Smith collected a loose ball on the edge of the penalty box, cut across the line of the box before firing a low shot into the corner of the net beyond keeper Calum Ferrie.
The Diamonds added a second goal in stoppage time to double their advantage. Adam Frizzell then picked out Dylan Easton to the left-hand side of the penalty box and, unmarked with time to control the flighted pass, he volleyed the ball into the net beyond Ferrie and give the home side a two-goal half time lead.
In 61 minutes, Easton collected a pass from Gabby Mcgill, cut in from the right to the middle, before curling the ball just wide of Ferrie’s right post.
With 66 minutes gone, Connor Smith’s 25-yard effort was on target, but comfortably taken by keeper Max Currie.
Late in the game, Connor Smith fired in a powerful shot, but Currie saved well.
MONTROSE 1 COVE 2
Cove went ahead on six minutes when Mitch Megginson fired home from close range from a cross from the right delivered by Rory Mcallister.
Montrose searched for an equaliser and Matty Allan headed over from good position, and a Mark Whatley effort was too close to the keeper.
However, it was the visitors who added to their tally when Fraser Fyvie headed home a Shay Logan cross on 32 minutes.
The Gable Endies saw a shot from Lyall Cameron blocked before Craig Johnston headed in a corner from the right after 38 minute to give his side hope.
There was little between the teams in the second half and, although both had opportunities, there were few chances.
Andrew Steeves headed over after 61 minutes and Lewis Milne went close for Montrose just minutes later.
Cove’s Leighton Mcintosh had a shot saved in time added, but neither side was able to add to their total.
CLYDE 2 EAST FIFE 0
Both sides showed early attacking intent without causing real danger for either keeper.
But that changed on 16 minutes when Adam Livingston forced a fine diving save from visiting keeper Jude Smith. And the Bully Wee went even closer minutes later when Nick Mcallister’s angled shot crashed off the bar.
Lewis Jamieson also hit woodwork before Clyde’s sustained pressure reaped reward when Ally Love sent a 14-yard shot beyond Smith and into the bottom right-hand corner.
The home team almost doubled their lead on the restart, but Smith came to the rescue for East Fife with a diving save to keep out Jamieson’s angled drive.
Jamieson was much more deadly at the other end, doubling the Bully Wee’s lead with a neat finish over the keeper.
The visitors might have grabbed a lifeline on 68 minutes, but Scott Mercer’s header drifted agonisingly wide.
DUMBARTON 0 FALKIRK 2
Falkirk moved to within three points of a play-off place as they plunged Dumbarton into deeper trouble.
The hosts were gifted the opener after four minutes when a poor header from Stephen Bronsky let in Jaze Kabia and he rounded Kieran Wright to score.
Dumbarton hit back and Kalvin Orsi managed to get on the end of a corner, but was denied by Robbie Mutch.
Charlie Telfer doubled Falkirk’s lead after 27 minutes when his shot slipped under Wright after a back-heel for Kabia.
The Bairns continued to press in the second half and Wright did well to keep out an angled shot from Kabia.
Telfer then fired an 18-yard shot over the top from Kabia’s cutback as Falkirk sought to kill the game off.
Dumbarton had plenty of the ball, but lacked conviction in front of goal and the home outfit were relatively untroubled in the closing stages.
Aaron Taylor-sinclair had the ball in the net again for Falkirk with a back-post header, but it was chalked off by the match official.
ALLOA 1 PETERHEAD 0
Alloa dominated the play from the start, and shots from Boyd and Sammon came close to give the home side the start that their play deserved.
In the 12th minute, Boyd sent over an inch-perfect pass to Kevin Cawley, but Cawley’s shot was cleared.
Mark Durnan came close when he could only watch as his closerange header went just over the bar.
Midway through the first half, Peterhead came close to scoring when Grant Savoury fired in a well-struck shot from the edge of the box, but it was cleared by Morrison in the home goal.
The hosts continued to push for the opener and had the visitors pinned back, and Henderson came close when he connected with a Connor Sammon cross, but the ball went wide.
The Wasps got the goal they deserved in the 68th minute as Kevin Cawley’s right-footed shot beat keeper Brett Long.
Peterhead boss Jim Mcinally made substitutions to freshen up his side, but went down to 10 men when they had Ryan Mcdonald sent off by referee Steven Boyd for a tackle on Ross Maciver – and the home side held on to take the three points.