Russell is influencial as Spartans break Blues
SPARTANS 3 STRANRAER 0
A second-half double from Ayrton Sonkur sealed the points for the league’s newcomers and strengthened their fourth spot at wind-blown Ainslie Park.
The Blues came out fighting and had several early chances with Matty Grant’s fifth-minute shot from 18 yards blocked, then his second chance five minutes went high over the bar.
The home side hit back and went into an 18th-minute lead with a back-post goal from Danny Denholm, who slid home a low cross from Blair Henderson.
In the 34th minute, Jamie Dishington could have added to the score but his shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a defender.
On 50 minutes, Cammy Russell beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper, but couldn’t find the net with a shot from an acute angle and, in the 56th minute, Denholm came close with left-foot drive from 25 yards which missed the target.
Matty Grant had a rare chance for the visitors on the hour, but he blasted the ball over from a corner.
Spartans finally got a break in the 63rd minute when Sonkur accepted a pass from Russell and cracked it into the net to make it 2-0.
Russell was again the provider in the 71st minute when his corner was smashed home by Sonkur to end the visitor’s hopes of a revival.
Russell almost got his name on the scoresheet in the 74th minute, but his shot smacked the crossbar and came out.
DUMBARTON 4 CLYDE 4
The game got off to a controversial start, with early Clyde appeals for handball in the penalty area denied. Then, on eight minutes, Dumbarton were awarded a spot-kick for handball and Tony Wallace converted.
Martin Rennie then passed up a glorious chance for the visitors, dragging a shot wide after beating the offside.
But Clyde did equalise midway through the first half, Connor Young turning to fire home from the edge of the box.
They then had a series of chances which missed the target, along with one which Matthew Shiels cleared off the line from Rennie.
Sons’ lead was restored nine minutes from half-time when a Finlay Gray cross from the right spun off a defender and into the net.
However, the visitors were instantly levelled from the spot, Rennie converting after a foul on Barry Cuddihy.
Dumbarton led for a third time on 72 minutes, Ryan Wallace stooping to head home a cross from the left.
And, with four minutes left, Aron Lynas finished at close range after a corner was not fully cleared.
But, on 89 minutes, Kian Leslie finished at the back post to give Clyde hope. And, in the second minute of stoppage-time, Logan Dunachie scrambled home the equaliser.
STENHOUSEMUIR 2 ELGIN 0
The home side took the lead in the third minute of the game when Matty Yates volleyed in after a pass by Ross Taylor.
In the early stages, they created more chances with Michael Anderson coming close with a shot that was deflected, but, as the game progressed, Elgin overcome that setback and got back into the proceedings and Russell Dingwall’s freekick was saved by Darren Jamieson.
Straight after half-time, Robert Jones could have equalised, but was unbalanced when he shot from the edge of the box.
With the visitors starting to cause Stenhousemuir problems, the home side were gifted a chance just after the hour to extend their lead.
Elgin keeper Tom Mchale fouled Matty Aitken just inside the box and the striker, who is the top scorer in the league, stepped up to take the penalty. Mchale saved the initial effort, but Aitken was the first to react to tuck the rebound home and secure a vital three points.
PETERHEAD 1 FORFAR 2
Forfar should have taken an early lead, but Skelly fluffed his shot from eight yards with the goal gaping.
Moore then tested Mckenzie form 18 yards, but the keeper pulled off a great save.
Forfar were probing and duly took the lead when Ross pounced on a Robson through ball to round Mckenzie and put the away team one up.
The lead was doubled with almost a carbon copy of the first, this time Skelly flicking on for Ross to round the Blue Toon goalie and roll the ball home.
Peterhead’s response was instant, however, Jack Brown firing high into the next to halve the lead.
Both teams had efforts at the start of the second half with Peterhead’s Mckee and Forfar’s Inglis both going close.
Ndati was then sent off for the away team with 20 minutes remaining and Jack Brown thought he had equalised, but it was ruled out for offside.
Peterhead were camped in the Forfar half and Mckee, Shanks and Strachan all went close, but the Forfar defence held firm to gain a vital three points.