Kelty canter home with two goals in each half
STRANRAER 0 KELTY HEARTS 4
Two goals just before the half-time interval helped Kelty Hearts to a comfortable victory at Stair Park.
The visitors came into the game unbeaten in the league and almost took the lead through Jamie Barjonas’ fierce drive. Jack Baker tipped the shot over the crossbar, but Kelty were handed an early Christmas present when Sean Burns sliced Michael Tidser’s resultant corner into his own net.
Stranraer fought back and were unlucky not to pull level just after the half-hour mark. Broque Watson cut in from the left and his powerful drive proved too hot for Darren Jamieson to handle as the goalkeeper spilled the shot.
However, Kelty extended their advantage just three minutes before the break as Stranraer again failed to deal with a corner. Kallum Higginbotham kept the ball alive and swung in a cross which the unmarked Jordon Forster nodded home from six yards.
Kieran Ngwenya did brilliantly on the left and fired in a low ball, which Nathan Austin fired into the roof of the net from just a couple of yards out to make it three.
It was 4-0 within the opening 10 minutes of the restart. Austin raced on to substitute Ross Philp’s through ball before rounding Baker and rolling the ball into the empty net.
Stranraer came within a whisker of getting a consolation in the closing stages. Substitute Josh Walker seized on a loose ball in the middle of the park, but Jamieson got a fingertip to the shot to divert it onto the crossbar.
ELGIN CITY 2 STENHOUSEMUIR 2
Michael Miller’s 25-yard drive took a deflection and looped over home goalkeeper Tom Mchale to give Stenhousemuir a 17th-minute lead.
Then slack defending by the home side presented Thomas Orr with the ball in front of goal and he coolly slotted home.
Elgin were at sixes and sevens, but were thrown a lifeline when top scorer Kane Hester was fouled by Ross Lyon on a run into the box, and he picked himself up to score the resulting penalty.
The visitors had chances to kill City off, not least when Darren Christie’s cross deflected off a post.
Christie was then put clean through on goal, but bent the ball just the wrong side of the post with just Mchale to beat.
Elgin’s challenge became greater when stopper Tom Grivosti fouled Euan O’reilly on a run to goal and was shown a straight red card with 10 minutes left.
The home side won a free-kick right at the death, and Darryl Mchardy met Russell Dingwall’s kick with a deft header which squeezed in at the post to rescue the North men.
STIRLING ALBION 2 ANNAN ATHLETIC 3
Stirling Albion again had James Creaney in caretaker charge following the recent departure of Kevin Rutkiewicz, and they went ahead in seven minutes when winger Daniel Scally found the bottom corner with a cool finish after being played in by Dylan Mackin.
Chris Johnston equalised on the half-hour when he waltzed through the defence and sent a low shot into the far corner.
Three minutes later, Peter Murphy’s men went ahead when Tommy Goss struck from close range.
Albion had Jack Leitch sent off early in the second half for a late tackle on Johnston.
Annan then increased their lead with 15 minutes left when substitute Rob Mccartney’s low drive beat Currie after some good build-up.
Scally reduced the deficit in the last minute when he finished with an effort which went in off the crossbar, but thirdplaced Annan were worthy winners.
COWDENBEATH 0 ALBION ROVERS 0
Rovers started well and Callum Wilson made a 30-yard run through the Cowdenbeath defence, but his 18-yard shot was held by keeper Cammy Gill.
Then, in eight minutes, Rovers’ Corey O’donnell latched on to a Keiran Dolan pass, but Gill raced from his line to block the striker’s shot.
At the other end, a Craig Thomson cross was met by home skipper Craig Barr and his angled header was held by Cammy Binnie.
In the first minute of the second period, Cowden’s Kane O’connor made a fine run into the Rovers box, but, with just the keeper to beat, he fired wide, then Barr’s header from a corner flew past.
With 28 minutes to go, Albion’s Charlie Reilly sent a looping volley just over after a poor home clearance.
Soon after, Cowden got a penalty when Robbie Buchanan’s cross was handled by Adam Fernie, but Liam Buchanan saw his spot-kick saved by Binnie.
As time began to run out, Rovers sub Michael Mullen came close after good work by Reilly gave him a chance 12 yards out, but Gill made a brave save.
Cowden had the ball in the net in time added through sub Bobby Barr, but the referee adjudged he fouled Binnie.