Division 2: Late comeback proves in vain as Alloa pay penalty

LEADERS Alloa came back from two down against Brechin City, only to see a last-gasp Charlie King penalty secure a 3-2 win for the promotion-chasing visitors.

Brechin side opened the scoring four minutes from half time when centre back Paul McLean shot home. The lead was doubled with 13 minutes left by on-loan Mark Archdeacon.

Alloa defender Scott Walker pulled one back with seven minutes to go and Stuart Noble equalised two minutes later. However, referee Frank McDermott pointed to the spot when home goalkeeper David Crawford was judged to have fouled Rory McAllister in the box and King scored the penalty.

Second placed Cowdenbeath were beaten as Peterhead breathed life into their play-off hopes with a 1-0 win at Balmoor, where Martin Bavidge's 20-yard strike was decisive.

Third-placed Stirling Albion have a hectic closing schedule to contend with, but they started off in good form, defeating Arbroath at Gayfield, where Christopher Aitken, Andy Graham and Iain Russell scored in the last quarter of an hour to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 win.

Andy Gibson had given the Forthbank side the lead after 12 minutes, but Kenny Mclean levelling from the penalty spot right on half time. Mitchel Megginson put Arbroath ahead with 18 minutes to go only for Albion to roar back.

Dumbarton's charge up the table towards a play-off spot came unstuck when they were defeated 1-0 at home by an East Fife side who are inching themselves to safety. Substitute Bobby Linn scored when he turned home a Jonathan Smart cross.

Clyde, all but certain to be relegated, stunned Stenhousemuir with a 3-0 win at Ochilview. Alan Lithgow, Jordan White and Adam Strachan scored the goals.