Second Division: Ayr crank up the heat on Raith ahead of showdown

Published on Sunday 25 January 2009 22:11

AYR United beat Arbroath 2-1 at home yesterday to close to within five points of leaders Raith Rovers ahead of this Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown at Somerset Park.

Brian Reid's promotion hopefuls also have the benefit of two games in hand over the Kirkcaldy side.

Arbroath went ahead in 35 minutes when Steven Weir converted a penalty after David Gormley handled. But Alex Williams levelled just before the break, and Ryan Stevenson won the game with superb second-half strike from 25 yards out.

Stranraer's troubled season went from bad to worse on Saturday as their team crashed 8-2 at home to Stirling Albion. It proved too much for Stair Park manager Derek Ferguson who left the club, who are reportedly on the brink of financial collapse, by mutual consent immediately afterwards.

The club's biggest asset, attacking French midfielder Gregory Tade, was the latest to leave when he joined Clyde on Friday, although he was hardly missed during the first half where Chris Hamilton and Michael Mullen traded goals to see the sides level at 1-1 on half time.

A deluge of goals saw Hamilton and his Stirling team-mate Martin Grehan hit hat-tricks, while a James McKinstry own goal and a John O'Neil strike completed Albion's eight. Stephen McConalogue netted Stranraer's second.

Before leaving, Ferguson said: "I feared this a wee bit as we did not have a defender in the team. We had to play midfielders at the back and when you lose the quality of players we have recently then this could happen."

A club statement read: "We wish Derek all the best and thank him for his time at Stranraer in what is probably the most difficult in the club's history."

Raith Rovers let Ayr close the gap when they were held to a goalless draw away to Alloa.

Brechin slipped to fourth place after drawing 1-1 at home with Peterhead. Gary Twigg opened the scoring in 75 minutes but the visitors levelled through Martin Bavidge's header four minutes later. Recently installed Glebe Park manager Jim Duffy said: "I thought that there would only be one goal in it, so when we scored I thought that was it, so it was a bit frustrating."

Balmoor manager Neale Cooper was delighted his side had bounced back after their midweek Scottish Cup exit at Queen's Park. "That is the best we have played away from home in a long time," he said.

East Fife strengthened their claims of a play-off place when they came back from two goals down to beat Queen's Park 4-2. Ian Watt's solo goal and a Paul Cairney penalty had the Spiders ahead until four goals through Stevie Crawford, who got two, Greig McDonald and Chris Templeman turned things round.