Three and easy victory for comfortable City
ANNAN 1 EDINBURGH CITY 3
Edinburgh City strengthened their third spot with a comfortable win over Annan.
The hosts came out on a high and Steven Swinglehurst’s early header flashed past the post.
In the 10th minute, City took the lead when Ouzy See fired in a left-foot shot from a Daniel Handling pass.
Right from the kick-off, Annan went upfield and Tony Wallace saw a great shot stopped by City keeper Brian Schwake.
In the 13th minute, the visitors had a let-off when Aidan Smith hit the bar from close in.
In the 32nd minute, the visitors went 2-0 up when James Hilton hit a close-in shot into the top corner of the net.
A minute later, Innes Murray should have scored, but his shot was stopped by the home keeper.
John Robertson put City on easy street when he fired home a third from 12 yards on 68 minutes.
Soon after, Annan’s Matty Douglas was red-carded for a second yellow card.
Robert Mccartney pulled one back for Annan with 11 minutes left with a low shot from 15 yards.
STIRLING ALBION 4 COWDENBEATH 0
Midfielder Jack Leitch opened the scoring after six minutes when he nodded home from close range after his initial header had come back off the bar.
Dylan Mackin doubled the Binos’ advantage shortly after the half-hour. Dylan Bikey and Leitch combined down
the left and the latter picked out the big striker for his fourth goal of the season.
Cowdenbeath posed more of a threat after the introduction of Kris Renton and they enjoyed a good spell during the second half when Bobby Barr and Liam Buchanan both went close.
Stirling substitute Dale Carrick got their third goal in 83 minutes when he converted a rebound after Cowden keeper Cammy Gill had parried a powerful drive from Leitch.
Another substitute, Sean Heaver, rounded things off when he ran through the middle of the defence and beat Gill with a cool finish two minutes from time.
FORFAR 3 ALBION ROVERS 1
Forfar took the lead after a long spell of possession, which culminated in Ross Meechan being freed by a superb Mark Gallagher pass. He went inside his man and fired a shot towards Rovers’ goalkeeper Cameron Birnie, who could only spill the ball to Stefan Mccluskey for his fourth of the season.
Forfar were utterly dominant in the opening period and Craig Thomson danced past the defence and cracked a shot off the inside of the post, but the ball bounced away from goal.
The hosts eventually doubled their advantage in the 64th minute. Another beautiful move, orchestrated by Craig Slater this time, was chested home by Scott Shepherd after Luke Strachan put the ball on a plate for the striker.
The Loons made it three soon after as the energetic Thomson picked out Matty Aitken, who tapped in from close range.
The visitors grabbed a consolation goal eight minutes from time, when their Trialist fired a lovely low finish.
KELTY HEARTS 1 STRANRAER 0
Stranraer had a great chance in the second minute, but Ross Smith sent a 20-yarder high over the bar.
But the leaders, who are four points clear, soon broke the deadlock and goalace Nathan Austin headed in a cross from Joe Cardle in the eighth minute.
He almost got a second in the 11th minute when his shot was blocked and he brought a diving save from Stranraer keeper Luke Scullion soon after.
The Blues were fighting hard and Paul Woods shot past in 25 minutes, and then had a shot saved three minutes later.
Kelty weathered the storm and Kallum Higginbotham and Broque Watson both had chances before the turn.
Scott Robertson headed over the home side six minutes after the restart and Emile N’goy had a great chance for them with 15 minutes left.
Deep into stoppage-time, Alfredo Agyman almost got a second for Kelty, but his shot was blocked.
STENHOUSEMUIR 1 ELGIN 2
Elgin took the lead in the fourth minute when Darryl Mchardy took advantage of poor marking at a corner to power home.
Stenhousemuir’s Tommy Orr tested the Elgin keeper with a well-struck shot that Thomas Mchale did well to stop.
Orr made Mchale work once again in the 67th minute, with the keeper making a one-handed save.
The home side drew level two minutes later when Nicky Jamieson headed home a pinpoint Adam Brown cross.
Stenny pushed hard for the decisive goal and they were denied a strong penalty claim a minute later when Jamieson went to ground in a tussle with Tom Grivosti, but no award was forthcoming.
This was followed by the best chance so far when Brown fired wide from close range with the goal gaping.
It looked as if a goal would come and it did, but at the other end, when, in a counter-attack, Russell Dingwall found himself with time and space and showed composure before tucking the ball home.