Late strikes shoot Cove to the top of the league
AIRDRIE 0 COVE RANGERS 2
Both sides met in the play-offs last season, though this time it was a clash of two title contenders.
Cove Rangers looked more dangerous in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
A 25-yard shot from Jamie Masson after seven minutes brought out a decent save from Airdrie keeper Max Currie.
Five minutes later, an Iain Vigurs corner was met by the experienced Rory Mcallister, who made a good run to the front post, but could only head the ball over the Airdrie goal.
The home side’s best chance came in 31 minutes when a defensive clearance
rebounded off Dylan Easton and Callum Smith’s 20-yard shot was well saved by Cove keeper Stuart Mckenzie.
Two goals inside three minutes saw the visitors gain revenge for their missing out in the play-off final last season
In 79 minutes, Mitch Megginson was unmarked as he rose to head home a cross from the right by Blair Yule. Then, in the 82nd minute, Harry Milne was able to run to the line to fire the ball across
the face of the Airdrie goal for Fraser Fyvie to score a second goal.
The win was enough to send Paul Hartley’s side to the top of the table.
CLYDE 3 EAST FIFE 1
Clyde’s David Goodwillie saw an early effort athletically turned behind by Jude Smith as Clyde made the early running.
And the East Fife keeper was in action again to thwart the league’s top scorer as his 20-yarder was destined for the bottom left-hand corner.
The visitors took 35 minutes to muster their first shot at goal and, when they did, Kyle Connell’s effort was blocked by Mark Docherty. Connell threatened again moments later, but his header was saved by Neil Parry as the Fifers finished the first half on top, but without finding the breakthrough.
Clyde responded on the restart with Ross Cunningham firing inches over, but it was the Fifers who broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when Connell was on hand to bundle home from close range.
The Bully Wee hit back with a quickfire double to turn the match on its head, Goodwillie converting a Gregory Tade pass on 67 minutes, before Cunningham drilled Paul Kennedy’s cross high into the net shortly after. And Cunningham made the points safe with another clinical finish in the dying minutes.
ALLOA 1 DUMBARTON 2
The first half was played at a frantic pace with neither side able to get the opener.
Early in the second half, it was the home side who came close to getting the goal their play deserved when Charlie
Gilmour connected with a cross from the right, but Sam Ramsbottom pulled off an outstanding save to touch the ball around the post for a corner.
The Sons were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute when Gilmour handled inside the box. Stuart Carswell stepped up to slot the ball past David Hutton in the home goal.
Substitute Conor Sammon equalised for the Wasps in the 72nd minute when, with his first touch of the ball, he fired home a right-foot close-range shot past Ramsbottom from a Mendy cross.
The visitors continued to press and they got a second goal in the 82nd minute when Eoghan Stokes, standing in the middle of the home box, connected with a Conner Duthie cross and rightfooted the ball past David Hutton.
FALKIRK 0 MONTROSE 1
Falkirk started on the front foot and Aidan Nesbitt had an early chance from Leon Mccann’s cross, but could not take advantage.
Montrose hit back and Graham Webster was just a foot high with an 18-yard shot.
The home side had an amazing let-off when Cammy Ballantyne hit the crossbar and, in the aftermath, a Blair Lyons’ shot was deflected on to the post.
Ballantyne broke the deadlock eight minutes from the break when he got his head to a Lyons’ cross from close range.
Aaron Lennox did well to divert a freekick from Falkirk substitute Aidan Keena past his post. From the corner, Ben Hall’s header was scrambled off the line as Montrose clung to their lead.
Charlie Telfer was just too high from another free-kick as The Bairns stepped up the pressure.
Falkirk squandered a great chance when Michael Ruth was fouled in the penalty area by Lennox with eight minutes left, but Callumn Morrison’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Lennox.
PETERHEAD 2 QUEEN’S PARK 1
Queen’s Park started brightly and could have gone ahead when Brown was put through on goal, however Long produced a brilliant save with his legs.
The Spiders took the lead a short time later when, after good build-up play, Longridge fed in Connell and he made no mistake from 16 yards.
Connell then hit the bar with a great strike as Queen’s looked to build on their lead.
The double substitution just after halftime by Peterhead, with Mclean and Lyle coming on, proved to be a masterstroke.
Mclean won a penalty shortly after, which Brown converted into the bottom left corner. Then the big striker scored after great work by Mulligan, which saw his 25-yard shot expertly saved by Ferrie, but spilling into the path of Mclean to put the Blue Toon into the lead.