Second Division

Published on Saturday 26 January 2008 18:50

Round-up

ALLOA 1

AIRDRIE UTD 2

AIRDRIE United kept their title hopes alive with their fifth win in six matches. But the Diamonds were forced to battle all the way by an Alloa outfit that started the match well.

Airdrie goalie Stephen Robertson made two fine saves as Alloa dominated the opening 15 minutes. The goalie tipped a Graham Brown effort over the bar before saving well from Doug Wilson.

But Airdrie made the home side pay for their profligacy in front of goal and top scorer Allan Russell broke the deadlock with a fine volley into the top corner.

Brian Prunty netted Airdrie's second goal with a fine finish past Raymond Jellema. Substitute Andy Scott pulled a goal back for Alloa after 77 minutes but they failed to find a late equaliser.

AYR UTD 3

QUEEN'S PARK 1

AYR ran out comfortable winners against a poor Queen's Park as both sides finished with ten men following the late dismissals of Ryan Stevenson and Mark Ferry.

Alex Williams fired the Honest Men in front after 14 minutes with his 11th league goal of the season, heading home from Stevenson's cross. Queen's Park were level midway through the first half when Dean Keenan deflected an Alan Trouten cross into his own net.

Stevenson restored Ayr's lead at the start of the second half with a left-foot drive from Jerome Vareille's cutback. Ian Anderson made sure of the points late on with a spectacular 30-yard strike past Mark Cairns. Both sides were reduced to ten men in the dying seconds following the clash between Stevenson and Ferry.

BRECHIN CITY 3

PETERHEAD 1

A DOUBLE from top scorer Charlie King helped Brechin secure their first victory in four outings.

Michael Paton fired Brechin in front after ten minutes. Charlie King played a neat ball through and Paton showed great composure slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Jamie Buchan went close to levelling for the Blue Toon just before the half-hour mark but the former Aberdeen man sent his volley just over the bar.

King doubled Brechin's advantage nine minutes before the interval, collecting a high ball from John Ward before turning inside and netting with a side-foot finish.

He netted his second goal of the afternoon to give Brechin a three-goal cushion before Bobby Mann reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

COWDENBEATH 2

ROSS COUNTY 4

A COMFORTABLE victory for County saw them maintain their two-point lead at the top of the table. An own goal from Cowdenbeath's John Armstrong saw the league leaders take the lead inside the opening 60 seconds.

Another own goal saw County double their lead when David Armstrong knocked a Dene Shields cross into his own net.

Martin Scott gave County a three-goal cushion at the start of the second half, capitalising on some poor defending to slot home.

Substitute Pat Clarke pulled a goal back with one of his first touches before Andy Barrowman restored County's three-goal lead after Hugh Roberston's free kick had been parried. John Dempster netted a late goal for Cowdenbeath as the home side tried in vain to get back into the match.

RAITH ROVERS 3

BERWICK 0

ROBERT Sloan was in fine form as Raith beat the league's bottom club to keep up the pressure on Ross County at the top of the table. Berwick goalie Peter Logan made a fine save to tip Sloan's free kick over the bar after 33 minutes. But Mark Campbell netted from the resulting corner kick, heading home from Sloan's delivery. Raith went close to netting another goal seconds later but Logan saved well from Marvin Andrews.

Steve Hislop netted his ninth league goal of the season after 69 minutes, heading home from Sloan's cross. And Graham Weir made sure of the points for the Kirkcaldy men with the third goal after 83 minutes, heading home from another Sloan corner kick. A miserable afternoon for Berwick Rangers was compounded in injury time when Brain Fairbairn was red-carded.