Binos get out the blocks quickly to see off Fifers
STIRLING ALBION 3 EAST FIFE 1
Stirling closed the gap on leaders Dumbarton to three points as East Fife suffered their first away league defeat of the season in an entertaining encounter at Forthbank.
The Binos made a storming start and were two goals up inside 10 minutes. Right-back Aaron Dunsmore picked out on-loan Dundee United winger Kai Fotheringham to score at the back post after just five minutes.
Dunsmore was again the provider for the second goal and his cross from the right was headed home by midfielder Jack Leitch.
The visitors recovered well, with plenty of possession, and were rewarded in 41 minutes when on-loan St Johnstone man Alex Ferguson set up Alan Trouten, who fired past Blair Currie.
In a dramatic finish to the game, East Fife were denied a stoppage-time equaliser when Trouten’s volley was superbly saved by Currie then Darren Young’s men sealed the victory on the break.
Dunsmore found the net from the edge of the box with keeper Allan Fleming stranded as Albion beat the Methil men for the second time this season.
DUMBARTON 2 FORFAR 2
Bottom-of-the-table Forfar Athletic were boosted by a surprise point at league leaders Dumbarton despite playing almost half the game with 10 men.
They got off to a great start when Gregor Buchanan deflected Roberto Nditi’s cross past his own goalkeeper.
However, Dumbarton were level five minutes from half-time, Ross MacLean deflecting Gregg Wylde’s initial shot into the net.
Forfar lost Kyle Hutton to a second booking soon after the interval, but regained the lead 17 minutes into the second half as slackness cost the usually reliable Sons defence, Stefan McCluskey tapping home at close range.
However, the home side fought straight back, with Joe McKee sending over a low ball that was converted by David Wilson.
ALBION ROVERS 1 STRANRAER 0
Callum Wilson earned Albion three vital points with an opportunist strike.
The home side even had the luxury of missing a late penalty as they celebrated the victory.
Salim Kouider-Aissa came close for Stranraer but sent his shot narrowly wide of Jack Leighfield’s goal.
Charlie Reilly looked dangerous at the other end and swiped an effort narrowly wide of target as Albion hit back.
Albion were grateful to Leighfield shortly afterwards as he blocked James Hilton’s shot with his legs.
Leighfield was well positioned to keep out a stinging shot from Hawkshaw early in the second half. But Albion took the lead when Luke Scullion saved a Blair Malcolm header but it broke for Wilson who fired the ball home.
Reilly was denied a second with 12 minutes left when his penalty was brilliantly saved by Scullion after he was fouled by Dylan Forrest.
ANNAN 1 ELGIN 3
Elgin moved up into third spot in the table after this win but they had to hang on at the end as the home side threw everything forward.
Early on, Annan looked strong with Tony Wallace and Tommy Goss going close in the first 15 minutes but, in the 17th minute, Brian Cameron struck the upright with a neat shot and, a minute later, Tom Findlay shot narrowly past.
Findlay made no mistake in the 26th minute when he put City ahead with a close-in shot and, three minutes before the interval, Cameron’s shot from 20 yards made it 2-0 at the turn.
There was little in it until the hour mark when Tony Wallace almost got one back for Annan but his shot went inches past. The hosts kept up the pressure, with Benjamin Luissint’s header in the 70th minute blocked and, two minutes later, Tommy Muir had a shot saved on the line. Annan were rewarded in the 74th minute when Reece Lyons got the vital break for them with a right-foot shot into the top corner of the Elgin net.
But, as they went all out for the equaliser, Cameron struck a huge blow two minutes from time as he drilled a shot from 15 yards low into the Annan net to make it 3-1 and seal the points.
STENHOUSEMUIR 1 BONNYRIGG 1
The honours were shared in this game thanks to a superb long-range strike by Bradley Barrett just two minutes after Adam Brown had opened the scoring for the hosts in the 38th minute.
The Warriors goal had come after Brown had been tripped in the box by Ross Gray just as the Stenhousemuir player had looked to have lost control of the ball.
No one, though, would have expected Barrett’s goal two minutes later that flew past Jay Cantley and must be a contender for the goal of the season.