Third Division: Full-timers fit the bill as Livingston scale heights

Published on Sunday 8 November 2009 21:32

LIVINGSTON are beginning to show the benefit of being the only full-time team in the division as they romped to their seventh league victory in nine games. The Almondvale men won 6-1 at Elgin to keep a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Keaghan Jacobs fired Livingston ahead with little over a minute played, with David Winters and Jacobs again putting Gary Bollan's men three ahead by half-time. A Mark Nicholson own goal and an Andrew Halliday finish made it five within seven minutes of the second-half sarting before Jason Talbot made it 6-0. Craig Gunn fired in a late consolation for Elgin. "That was simply not acceptable. We lost a bad goal in the first minute and it spread from there," said fuming Elgin manager Ross Jack.

Bollan said: "Our full-time fitness is beginning to kick in now and it showed in what was a great performance."

Berwick won their game at Stranraer twice, where they raced into a two- goal lead only to be pegged back before scoring again to take all the points over the border in a 4-2 win. Stranraer goalkeeper David Mitchell and defender Murray Henderson combined to put through their own goal after only five minutes with former Hibs player Damon Gray making it two midway through the first-half.

Stair Park manager Keith Knox's half-time team talk seemed to work with Darren McGeough and Stuart McColm levelling only for Jamie Ewart and Gray to win the game for Berwick.

Knox said: "Our first-half display left us with a mountain to climb. We were really poor."

Berwick manager Jimmy Crease said: "You saw the best and worst of us."

Albion Rovers were held 0-0 at home by bottom side Montrose, who have yet to win a league game.

The Links Park side had the ball in the net through former Rover John Gemmell, but he was ruled offside.

Manager Steven Tweed said: "I am happy to pick up a point but it could have been three, as I am not convinced John was offside."

Queen's Park finally won at home with a Frankie Carroll goal giving them a 1-0 win over East Stirling, who missed a penalty when Andy Rodgers' effort was saved. It was the Spiders' first home victory in nearly seven months.

Hampden head coach Gardner Speirs said: "It is a massive relief to finally get that win here. It was a great goal and everyone at the club is delighted with the win."

Visiting manager Jim McInally, who has been critical of match officials recently, said: "I thought the referee was excellent and I congratulated him on his performance."

Forfar enjoyed a 2-1 win over Annan at Station Park. Ross Campbell headed in before Ian Harty put the Loons two up with 27 minutes gone. Visiting striker David Cox pulled a goal back in the second-half.

The home side's Dick Campbell said: "We had this game won and then gave away a daft goal. It turned into a nervous finish when it did not need to be."

Annan's Harry Cairney said: "We switched off for five minutes and were punished by losing two silly goals."