Spiders celebrate new lodgings and log 10-point lead
QUEEN’S PARK 1 STIRLING ALBION 0
Queen’s Park opened up a 10-point gap at the top by seeing off Stirling Albion 1-0 in their first game at their temporary home of The Falkirk Stadium.
The Spiders took the lead on 33 minutes when a wicked Luca Connell corner was headed goalward by Kilday and the ball hit off the unfortunate Darryl Meggatt and into his own net.
Right on half-time, the hosts came close to a second when Bob Mchugh exchanged passes with Ross Mclean before letting fly from 20 yards, but Cammy Binnie was equal to his effort.
Salim Kouider-aissa looked set to slot in for Ray Mckinnon’s side when he held off Meggatt’s challenge on 62 minutes, but the on-loan Livingston man slipped the ball past the post.
A minute later, Jack Leitch should have equalised, but he failed to get enough power on his six-yard header from Ross Mcgeachie’s cross.
Kouider-aissa was presented an open goal midway through the half when a poor Binnie clearance was headed into his path by Louis Longridge, but the striker fired wide. Binnie then redeemed himself with a point-blank save from David Galt five minutes from time.
COWDENBEATH 0 ALBION ROVERS 1
Rovers took the lead on 11 minutes when Aaron Lynas was pulled down in the Cowden box and former Hearts and Ayr United man Ryan Stevenson made an expert job of the penalty.
Ten minutes later, the hosts were denied a spot-kick when Graham Taylor’s cross came off James Mcgowan’s arm on the edge of the Rovers’ six-yard box, but the referee awarded a corner amid home protests.
Rovers threatened again on the half-hour when a long freekick into the home box was met by Jamie Leslie, whose looping header went over keeper Nicky Hogarth, but landed on the top of the Cowden net.
The visitors were belying their second-bottom status and, in 35 minutes, Finn Ecrepont broke clear in the Cowden box, but his low drive went just wide.
Cowden made a double substitution on 58 minutes with veteran striker Iain Russell and midfielder Robbie Buchanan going on. Immediately, Russell saw his 12-yard strike blocked for a corner by Paul Gallacher.
Rovers kept their cool as time ran out and home efforts became more frantic, but keeper Harry Stone did not have a difficult save to make.
ANNAN ATHLETIC 0 ELGIN CITY 3
A two-goal scoring burst just before the interval set Elgin on the victory trail and moved them up to third spot.
But it left Athletic still waiting on their first home win after starting strongly with two great chances in the opening 15 minutes.
Iain Anderson blasted past in the sixth minute, and Tyler Fulton brought a great save from keeper Tom Mchale with a strong drive from 15 yards seven minutes later.
On the half-hour mark, Tony Dingwall’s shot was blocked by the home defence and, just after the half-hour, he shot over.
However, he made amends in the 37th minute when he broke clear and shot home from 10 yards.
Four minutes later, Brian Cameron doubled City’s tally when he fired past Alex Mitchell into the top corner from close in.
Anderson and Kane Hester had chances early in the second half for Annan and, in the 72nd minute, Nathan Flanagan tried a 20-yarder which went narrowly past.
Elgin piled on the agony in the last minute when Smart Osadolor fired goal No. 3 low into the net from the edge of thebox.