Early strike earns Elgin win
INVERURIE LOCOS 0
ELGIN CITY 1 A WELL-WORKED move after nine minutes down the right started by Bryan Cameron ended with Archie MacPhee volleying beyond the reach of Locos trialist goalkeeper Kieran McCaffrey.
MacPhee could have added a second in the 26th minute but fired into the side netting.
The Highland League side were the better team in the second half but c o u l d n’t make the breakthrough.
Stewart Black at full stretch made a fine save to deny a looping Neil McLean header, then Gordon Forsyth saw a header cleared off the line. EAST FIFE 0 DUNFERMLINE 3 EAST FIFE used their first pre-season friendly to offer a chance to several players to win contracts.
Dunfermline took the lead when Ryan Williamson’s fine run down the wing saw him fire in a cross and Michael Moffat slotted past Ryan Goodfellow.
The visitors increased their lead when Moffat picked out David Hopkirk, who had little trouble netting. Cardle wrapped up the win with a third when he tapped in a Ross Caldwell cross.
Willie Gibson (right) nets the winner for Dumbarton against Edinburgh City. EDINBURGH CITY 0
DUMBARTON 1 STEVE AITKEN’S Dumbarton looked threatening early on at Ainslie Park and Gibson came close with a shot which flew just over.
Jordan Kirkpatrick was heavily involved in the first half but could not find the target from a good position.
Dumbarton manager Aitken rang the changes at half- time to take every opportunity to look at his squad before the big kick-off.
Dumbarton made the breakthrough midway through the second half and it was no surprise that debutant Willie Gibson should get the goal, lashing the ball into the roof of the net. BERWICK RANGERS 1
NORTH SHIELDS 1 A BERWICK trialist went close to breaking the deadlock when he saw a free-kick rebound off the face of the crossbar after 25 minutes.
Berwick sub Callum Helm gave Rangers the lead after 63 minutes when he took advantage of a mixup in the visitors’ defence, slotting the ball home from 10 yards out.
North Shields sub Gary Day equalised 12 minutes later when he cut in from the right and found the net with a shot off the far post. STENHOUSEMUIR 0
LIVINGSTON 3 LIVINGSTON went ahead in the 10th minute. One of three trialists in the starting line- up rounded Dean Shaw before tapping home from a Jordan Sheerin pass.
Liam Buchanan rifled home a second in 33 minutes after a superb Ross Millen pass. Millen then fired in a third seven minutes later.
The home team were marginally the better side in the second period but a 25-yard shot from Allan Smith that Livi’s trialist keeper punched clear was the nearest they came to scoring. FALKIRK 5 QUEEN’S PARK 0 WITH 15 minutes gone, Blair Alston’s ambitious 40- yard effort caught Spiders keeper Willie Muir off his line but the ball went over.
Five minutes later, John Baird volleyed home in fine style after a flick from former Motherwell striker Bob McHugh.
It was 2- 0 seven minutes from the break when Alston lofted the ball over the advancing Muir.
Within two minutes of the restart, David Smith thumped home No 3 from a deep cross.
In 78 minutes, ex- Dundee and Hibs striker Paul Heffernan lashed home from the spot after a trip.
Smith completed the scoring with a fine 20-yard shot seven minutes from time.
Bairns boss Peter Houston said: “It was good to get going again and this sets us nicely for our short trip to Ireland.”
Hampden chief Gus MacPherson commented: “It was a good workout and allowed me to cast my eye over a number of potential new recruits.”