Second Division: Ryan McCord seals Alloa win

By CRAIG P STEWART
Published on 24/12/2012 01:42

ALLOA bounced back from last weekend’s defeat by Stranraer to reduce Queen of the South’s leadat the top of the Second Division to six points by seeing off Forfar 2-1 at Recreation Park.

The game was won courtesy of an early double by midfielder Ryan McCord, who took advantage of a hesitancy in the visiting defence to score in the fourth minute, before lobbing in a second goal from 15 yards a quarter of an hour later.

Chris Templeman’s close-range header from a Dale Hilson corner got the Loons back into things a minute before the break, but Alloa always looked the more likely to score in the second half.

The game ended on a low note as Alloa’s Graeme Holmes and the visiting Stephen Tulloch were dismissed after a last-minute disagreement between the pair got slightly out of hand.

Delighted Wasps manager Paul Hartley said: “We had to graft hard to get the win so I am delighted. We would have liked to play super football but it was not really a day for that so I will settle for the win. The boys can go now and enjoy Christmas.”

Forfar boss Dick Campbell said: “We had most of the possession but did not do enough with it. Overall Alloa deserved to win.”

East Fife defeated Stenhousemuir 3-2 in atrocious conditions at New Bayview to move into a play-off place.

Bobby Barr fired the Fifers in front early when he lofted the ball home after a clearance by visiting goalkeeper Callum Reidford had landed in his path.

Steven Campbell headed home a Jamie Pollok cross for the second on 32 minutes with the Warriors pulling a goal back when Stewart Kean netted just before the hour mark.

Substitute Andy Rodgers restored parity with 21 minutes left when he nodded in a Bryan Hodge corner, but the scores were only level for two minutes as Scott McBride headed in the winner.