Just champion as Bairns chalk up win 27
HAMILTON 0 FALKIRK 2
Champions Falkirk maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought win against second-top Accies.
Second-half goals from Ross Maciver and Aidan Nesbitt means the Bairns have now won 27 of their 33 matches to date.
Dylan Tait was first to threaten for the visitors when he pulled a shot narrowly wide from just outside the box.
Nesbitt and Calvin Miller also had efforts on goal, but Accies keeper Dean Lyness saved both comfortably.
The home side went close on 25 minutes when Stephen Hendrie’s angled drive forced a good save from Nicky Hogarth, before Lyness did just as well to deny Miller.
But the deadlock was broken on the restart when Miller curled a 20-yard free-kick round the defensive wall and, while Lyness performed heroics to touch it onto the inside of the post, the loose ball fell perfectly for Maciver to stab home.
Miller sent a header just wide as the Bairns went for the kill, but Ahkeem Rose was just as close as Accies looked for an equaliser.
They almost got it when Lewis Smith’s net-bound shot was turned behind by the diving Hogarth.
But Falkirk made the points safe when Nesbitt pounced on a slip in the home defence and produced a cool finish into the bottom-right corner.
ALLOA 0 MONTROSE 0
Alloa’s Scott Taggart came close with a right-foot shot that went wide as the home side continued to press, then Morgyn Neill had a long range effort also go past.
Alloa’s Taylor Steven came close with a right-foot shot that was saved by Cammy Gill in the Montrose goal.
Gable Endies ubstitute Matheus Machado ran on to an Aidan Quinn cross and fired in a rightfoot shot that home goalie PJ Morrison brilliantly saved.
The visitors then took control of the match and Craig Brown, from the edge of the box, fired a strong
right-foot shot that Morrison saved well in the Wasps’ goal.
In the closing minutes, Machado had the best effort of the game when, from close range, he connected with a cross from the right and blasted the ball towards the goal. But, once again, PJ Morrison came to the rescue.
ANNAN 4 COVE 2
Cove almost took the lead in the second minute, but Connor Scully’s shot from 10 yards was saved by Greg Fleming, and he got to a Rumarn Burrell effort soon after.
Benjamin Luissint should have put Annan ahead in the 16th minute but his header went over, and Willie Gibson saw his longrange shot stopped by the keeper Balint Demus in the 23rd minute.
Annan struck in the 23rd minute when Tommy Goss headed a Gibson cross strongly into the net and, five minutes later, Gibson was again the provider when he sent over another perfect corner and this time Matty Douglas got his foot to the ball and they were 2-0 up.
Cove fought back and, within four minutes, they were thrown a lifeline when Kyle Connell fired low and hard past Fleming to make it 2-1. Just on half-time, Cove were level when Josh Kerr
rose above the rest to head in at the back post.
Luissint restored Annan’s lead in the 67th minute with a firsttime shot into the top corner of the net. On 80 minutes, Annan sealed the points when a ball from Aidan Smith was picked up by Josh Walker and he gave the keeper no chance with rocket into the top corner.
QOS 2 EDINBURGH CITY 0
It was a first half of missed opportunities for the Doonhamers, with visiting goalie Ruairidh Adams making several stops.
Alex Ferguson burst forward for Queens and passed to Gavin Reilly, but Adams did well to turn the ball behind. Then the keeper had to be alert to deny a first-time Kyle Doherty 18-yard hit.
The hosts would start to think it wasn’t going to be their day as Adams again produced a fantastic save from Reilly’s low shot from an acute angle.
Queens kept up the pressure in the second half with Ferguson breaking through to go one-onone with Adams, but the keeper once again won the duel.
The Doonhamers finally found the breakthrough on 65 minutes when sub Lewis Gibson swung in a brilliant delivery and Reilly steered his header into the bottom corner.
The home side calmed the nerves in the final four minutes when Gibson made it two assists as his corner was met at the front post by Paul Mckay and back across, leaving Adams no chance.
KELTY 1 STIRLING ALB 0
Stirling’s Callum Crane had the first attempt at goal, but his shot from 25 yards was stopped by Kyle Gourlay, then player-manager Michael Tidser sent a free-kick over The Binos bar in the 17th minute. Defences were on top until the 33rd minute when some great team play by the Maroon Machine ended with Mccluskey driving the ball home.
The visitors’ Josh Mcpake saw his shot blocked in the 35th minute and then Adam Cummins brought a full-length save from Gourlay.
Five minutes into the second half, Crane’s shot from 20 yards went inches over the Kelty bar and, on the hour mark, Kieran Offord had a chance to equalise, but shot straight at keeper Gourlay.
The Fife side began to dominate and had several chances, with Lewis O’donnell shooting over and shots from Alfie Bavidge and Moore cleared.
BROUGHTY ATHLETIC maintained their lead at the top of the table with a hard-fought 2-1 win at LOCHEE HARP. Derryn Kesson gave Broughty the lead and Ryan Hunter doubled their advantage before Harp pulled a goal back through Matthew Riley.
LOCHEE UNITED came back from two down at half-time against EAST CRAIGIE with a storming second half to win 3-2. Ryan Paterson pulled one back and Jack Neave equalised, with Paterson striking again for the winner. Ross Mcnaughton and Lee Lorimer were the Craigie scorers.
NORTH END kept their title hopes alive with a narrow 2-1 win at COUPAR ANGUS. Frankie Devine put the Dokens ahead from a penalty, but Coupar levelled, only for the Dokens to clinch the points through a second Devine spot-kick.
TAYPORT were stretched by LETHAM, but held on to take the points with a 3-2 victory. Scott Mccomiskie gave the Fifers a fifth-minute lead and Jaden Ferguson made it two on 14 minutes. Aiden Edward pulled a goal back on 56 minutes, only for Mccomiskie to strike again for the hosts. Aaron Carlon made it a nervy last few minutes for the Fifers when he converted a late penalty for the Perth side.
In a game of few chances, ARBROATH VICS stretched their unbeaten run to five matches in a goalless draw at DUNDEE VIOLET.
DOWNFIELD were 2-1 winners at DUNDEE ST JAMES. The visitors led through strikes from Liam Mcpake and Sean Tucker before Josh Mclaughlin converted a late penalty for the hosts.
CARNOUSTIE PANMURE found it tough going against BRECHIN VICS, but held on to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Ross Fraser and Kai Cooper.
FORFAR UNITED hit a late equaliser to earn a share of the points in a 1-1 draw at MONTROSE ROSELEA. Fraser Jamieson gave Roselea the lead, but United hit the equaliser with 10 minutes to go.
■ In the West Premier Division, BEITH moved into second spot with a 2-0 win over 10-man BENBURB at Bellsdale. Midfielder Paul Frize fired the home side ahead in the first half, before Danny O’neill doubled their lead in the second period, with Jordan Allan sent off for the Bens.
HURLFORD UNITED picked up their first win in five games after beating ST CADOC’S 2-1 at Blair Park. Jack Whittaker fired the Ford ahead after 52 minutes when his deflected effort looped in, with Marc Mckenzie doubling their lead just a minute later when he finished well from just inside the area. Lewis Mctaggart pulled a goal back for Cads five minutes from time.
Luke Main celebrated signing a new contract by scoring the winner in POLLOK’S 3-2 win at home to GARTCAIRN.