Second division round-up: Raith Rovers 1 - 0 East Fife

Published on Saturday 3 January 2009 18:39

RAITH Rovers capitalised on postponements elsewhere and got back to winning ways to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Former Queen's Park player Mark Ferry netted with his first touch after coming on as a substitute to win the match just as it started to look as if the visitors would hold on for a share of the points. Graham Weir swung in a deep cross from the right flank, and Ferry ghosted in to net with a glancing header.

Bobby Linn spurned an excellent early opportunity to fire the Fifers in front when his low shot was well saved by David McGurn. But that apart, Raith dominated and Kevin Smith had ashot saved by Willie McCulloch before Iain Davidson saw an effort deflected behind for a corner kick. McCulloch produced two further fine stops to deny Rovers before the break, saving from two separate Mark Campbell headers.

Smith and Weir both saw efforts saved by McCulloch at the start of the second half before Ferry's goal sealed the points for his club.

Queen's Park 2

Peterhead 1

QUEEN'S Park started the year in style with their first victory at the national stadium since September.

Peterhead's frailty at the back was exposed as the Spiders broke the deadlock after 13 minutes. The Blue Toon failed to clear the ball and Ian Watt swept the ball past Michal Kula from 12 yards.

Peterhead's first real chance of the game came after 28 minutes when Stuart Anderson saw his 20-yard effort punched away by Spiders keeper David Crawford. The Blue Toon levelled three minutes later from a well-worked set piece. Graeme Sharp sent in an inswinging corner kick and Stuart McKay nodded the ball home from close range at the back post.

Queen's Park retook the lead five minutes before the interval with a quickbreak. Ryan Holms made an excellent solo 50-yard run down the right before crossing for Paul Cairney to bullet home a header.

The Spiders could have extended their lead after the break, but Stevie Nicholas saw a shot saved while Holms blazed over from the edge of the box.