SFL round-up: Saints get promotion push back on track

Published on Sunday 15 February 2009 22:28

ST JOHNSTONE'S SPL promotion push took a giant leap forward on Saturday when the Perth club ended a run of three draws to see off Livingston 1-0 at McDiarmid Park.

Substitute Collin Samuel netted the winner with 20 minutes to go.

Dunfermline are back in second after beating Partick Thistle 3-2 at Firhill thanks to a late Rory Low winner. The Jags had opened the scoring after nine minutes through Liam Buchanan before Steven Bell equalised just four minutes later.

Andy Kirk headed the Pars ahead on the half-hour mark before Kris Doolan equalised with an angled shot four minutes later. Low grabbed the winner two minutes from time, firing in the rebound after seeing his penalty saved by Jonny Tuffey.

Meanwhile, Queen of the South enjoyed a 4-0 win over bottom side Airdrie.

Stephen Dobbie opened the scoring in the first half with a penalty, before Airdrie's Kevin McDonald was sent off for a crude challenge on Neil Scally. The Doonhammers grabbed three more in the second half through Bob Harris, Dobbie and substitute David Weatherston.

Both Second Division games focused on the mini-league of the four bottom teams. Arbroath and Alloa won to leave Stranraer looking doomed and Queen's Park occupying the relegation play-off spot.

Stranraer lost 5-1 at home to Arbroath. Robbie Ross and Robbie Raeside (penalty) put the Gayfield men two up within ten minutes. Stephen McConalogue pulled a goal back only for David McGowan to restore the visitors' two-goal advantage before half time. The home side's Martin McBride was sent off three minutes into the second half and Ross headed in again before Kevin McMullan shot home Arbroath's fifth.

Alloa came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Queen's Park. The match turned in the opening 120 seconds of the second half when Queen's Barry Douglas was sent off for two yellows. Grieg Spence, 16, cancelled out Paul Harkins' 12th-minute opener for Queen's Park and Stuart Noble lashed home the winner late on.

In the Third Division, Andy Rodgers gave East Stirling a 1-0 win over bottom side Elgin City to move his side above Montrose into a play-off space.