Play-off hopefuls enjoy home comfort on artificial pitches

Published on Monday 30 January 2012 01:40

It WAS a case of plastic being fantastic as the only two games that beat the cold snap at the weekend were on synthetic surfaces with the games on grass between Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers, Brechin City and Arbroath and Dumbarton’s game at Forfar all called off.

Stenhousemuir and Airdrie United were rewarded for getting their games on with victories that have boosted their promotion play-off hopes, with the Ochilview men defeating East Fife 1-0 and the Diamonds sending Stirling Albion home on the back of a 4-1 defeat

The Warriors ended a four-game run without a win by defeating the Fifers to keep hold of third spot, a place that would have been taken by John Robertson’s side if they had won. The winner came just before the hour mark when Andy Rodgers sent home a volley from 10 yards.

As East Fife chased an equaliser, substitute Craig Johnstone had the ball in the net only to be penalised for offside.

Ochilview boss David Irons said, “It was not the prettiest of games but, after a disappointing run, it was important that we got the right result. Instead of being overtaken by East Fife, we have moved five points clear of them and that shows the value of this win.”

A disappointed Robertson said: “We will play worse and win. Sometimes in football you don’t get what you deserve.”

Airdrie hit Stirling hard and fast at the Excelsior Stadium with John Boyle firing in from 25 yards and Paul Lovering heading home in the opening 17 minutes.

With 17 minutes to go, Willie McLaren scored the third following good work by Ryan Donnelly and substitute Scott Sally added a fourth. Mark Ferry scored a consolation goal for Stirling in the 90th minute but defender Bryan Allison was dismissed in injury-time to complete a miserable afternoon for the visitors.

Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle said: “The players were looking forward to this game as they wanted to make up for last week’s defeat from Dumbarton. We made a great start with the two early goals although we stepped off things before finishing strongly.”

Stirling boss Greig McDonald reckoned that his side got what they deserved, saying: “The players have worked really hard since we took over but we didn’t show up for the first-half and got what was coming to us.”

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