Albion survival hopes lifted with Stenhousemuir win

Bottom club Albion Rovers ended a nine-game run of defeats by stunning play-off seeking Stenhousemuir 4-3 at Cliftonhill to give their hopes of avoiding the drop a huge boost.

Chris Dallas gave the Coatbridge side the lead after eight minutes when he netted his first goal for the club after ignoring visiting appeals for offside to race through and net.

Things got even brighter for the Coatbridge side 11 minutes later when Pat Walker set up David Crawford to net with a left-foot shot and, five minutes after the break, it was 3-0 when Alan Reid’s cross was dropped into his own net by Warriors goalkeeper Callum Reidford.

Within a minute, Stenhousemuir pulled a goal back when former Rover John Gemmell blasted home from the penalty spot after Reid had fouled Sean Dickson, however Scott Sally powered home from the edge of the box with 21 minutes left to make it four for the home side. Gemmell headed in his second with five minutes left and Jamie Reid shot home in injury time.

Ayr United’s play-off hopes also took a dent as they went down 2-1 to visitors Brechin City, with the Glebe Park men taking the lead midway through the first half.

Andy Jackson hit the bar from a corner and defender Ewan Moyes turned in the loose ball.

Ayr levelled five minutes into the second half when fine play from Michael Donald created the opening for Liam Buchanan, who just forced the ball over the line. Brechin got back in front with 13 minutes left when Graham Hay nodded home a David McKenna free kick.