Game of two halves as Queen’s pay penalty
MONTROSE 1 QUEEN’S PARK 1
In a hard-fought match between two of the top contenders in League 1, neither team was able to grab the all-important
winning goal.
Queen’s were in command for much of the first half and they went ahead after 26 minutes when Louis Longbridge found space in the box and he flicked the ball past keeper Aaron Lennox.
Just before half-time, Longbridge again created space for himself, but this time his shot was easily saved by Lennox.
Montrose looked much more purposeful after the break.
On 48 minutes, Lyons dribbled past several defenders before being brought down in the box by Jack Thomson, who was booked for his trouble. Graham Webster fired the ball hard and high to the keeper’s right.
Minutes later, Webster shot over from the edge of the box and, at the other end, Longbridge saw his right-footed effort sail over the bar.
On 63 minutes, Queen’s keeper Ferrie dropped a cross under pressure from Montrose forwards, but the linesman flagged offside.
COVE 3 ALLOA 0
Mouhamed Niang set notice that Alloa had travelled north in search of three points with an early 20-yard strike that warmed Stuart Mckenzie’s hands.
There was a blow for the hosts when a heavy tackle forced Iain Vigurs to limp off on the quarterhour. Fraser Fyvie hit the target with the resulting free-kick, but it was well saved by David Hutton.
Cove got their noses in front on 41 minutes when Rory Mcallister laid the ball into the path of Jamie Masson, who drilled in a 22-yard shot into the top corner.
Leigh Mcintosh, who came on for Vigurs in the first half, had a penalty shout turned down early in the second period, but referee Steven Reid couldn’t ignore the claims when he was flattened by Mark Durnan just before the hour.
Mcallister then sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to find the bottom left corner from 12 yards.
The icing was placed on Cove’s Christmas cake by the captain five minutes from time. Blair Yule picked out Fin Robertson, who played it into Mitch Megginson and he bent the ball perfectly into the top corner.
DUMBARTON 2 PETERHEAD 3
Russell Mclean’s second-half header claimed the points for Peterhead at Dumbarton in a game played in bizarre foggy conditions.
Andy Geggan headed Dumbarton in front, converting from Joe Mckee’s corner on 16 minutes.
The visitors levelled through Josh Mulligan nine minutes later with a fine angled finish.
Conner Duthie bundled home a second goal for Dumbarton on 28 minutes.
Again Peterhead had a response. After being clipped by keeper Sam Ramsbottom in the area, Mclean’s initial penalty was saved, but he snapped up the rebound.
And on 66 minutes, he sealed the points with a glancing header from a corner from the right.
If anything, the fog thickened over the rest of the afternoon, but Peterhead were well worth their win.
CLYDE 1 AIRDRIEONIANS 2
(Match abandoned 75 min) A Gabriel Mcgill double proved in vain for Airdrie as referee Barry Cook called a halt at fogbound Broadwood on 75 minutes.
Aaron Splaine wasted no time in testing Max Currie with a firstminute shot that had the Airdrie keeper at full stretch.
The game burst into life with two goals in as many minutes. Airdrie were first to strike when Mcgill stabbed home from close range after Callum Smith’s shot rebounded from a post. But Clyde were level immediately as Rob Jones headed David Goodwillie’s cross into the net.
Smith almost scored with a firm shot that sneaked wide.
Mcgill fired Airdrie back in front on the restart, but was injured in the process and had to be stretchered off.
There were fears of an abandonment when referee Barry Cook suspended play to assess visibility, but, after a 10-minute delay, the game continued – if only briefly.
Jones almost levelled for a second time with a shot that forced a diving save from Currie.
As the fog thickened, Cook took the inevitable decision to abandon the match – and few could argue with that decision.
EAST FIFE 0 FALKIRK 1
(Match abandoned 45 min) Bayview boss Stevie Crawford said the decision to abandon his East Fife side’s match with Falkirk was the right one.
The Bairns held the lead in the match thanks to an Aidan Keena effort on 36 minutes from a tight angle before a thick fog swamped Bayview, forcing ref Chris Fordyce to bring an early halt to proceedings.
It was tough on Falkirk, but Crawford said that safety had to be paramount.
“Falkirk will be frustrated after going a goal up that the game has been called off, but the health and safety of the players is vitally important,” said Crawford.
“The decision was 100% right and I’m not saying that because we were a goal down. I know Aidan Keena has scored but I couldn’t tell you how he hit it or about the lead up to the goal.”
Bairns boss Rennie said: “It’s obviously a bit disappointing but it’s the right decision. It became hard to see and fans have paid their money to watch the game but can’t see what’s going on.
“But I’m focused on the fact that we managed to get 40 minutes in after having only trained for two days – and I saw things we can work on and improve.”