Second division round-up

Published on Saturday 11 April 2009 19:57

Ayr United 3 Arbroath 1

AYR United maintained their slender single-point advantage at the top of the table with a hard-fought victory. Chris Aitken fired Ayr in front from the penalty spot after 50 minutes, but Jamie Bishop levelled for Arbroath with a well-placed header from a Barry Sellars corner kick.

Ayr rebuffed the Arbroath fightback, and Ryan Stevenson netted a quick brace to seal victory. His first goal with a neat turn and finish; the second came from an Aitken cross.

Peterhead 0

Brechin City 1

BRECHIN moved a step closer to securing a play-off berth with a single-goal victory over their fellow play-off hopefuls.

Brechin stepped up the pace after the break and Rory McAllister saw a shot well saved by Blue Toon goalie Michal Kula before Darren Smith eventually broke the deadlock with a cool finish from a dangerous McAllister cross. Peterhead could also have netted after the interval but David Ross saw his effort strike the post.

Queen's Park 3

East Fife 1

THE Spiders bounced back from an early deficit to secure a valuable victory.

The Fifers made the perfect start when a long ball through the middle found the unmarked Paul McManus and he lofted the ball over the advancing Zander Cowie.

Queens dominated thereafter, and two goals in 60 seconds from Ryan Holms and Paul Cairney saw them take the lead before the interval. Paul Harkins netted the third goal to seal it.

Raith Rovers 3

Alloa Athletic 1

TEN-man Raith held off a second-half fightback from Alloa to keep up the pressure on Ayr United.

Kevin Smith gave Raith the lead midway through the first half after a defensive mix-up. But Rovers were reduced to ten men before half-time when Stephen Simmons picked up his second booking.

Brown Ferguson levelled for Alloa with a free kick before Smith netted his second of the afternoon. Graham Weir made sure of in injury time.

Stirling Albion 1

Stranraer 2

MICHAEL Moore scored an injury-time winner as relegated Stranraer secured only their second win of a woeful league campaign.

Stirling Albion had won the previous meeting between the teams 8-2, and David McKenna gave them the lead after 16 minutes. But the Blues hit back and Stuart McColm levelled.

Martin Grehan went close to firing the Binos ahead but Moore scored from an Andy Gibson corner to secure a late Stranraer triumph.