Albion Rovers 3 - 1 Annan Athletic: Love affair for Rovers

The striker's contribution means the Coatbridge side take a two-goal advantage to Galabank for Sunday's second leg of the play-off final but Ian Harty's goal does give Annan a glimmer of hope.

Rovers, keen to make home advantage count, might have gone ahead easrly at Cliftonhill when Robert Canning picked out Scott Chaplain who miscued from a good position.

But the opener was only delayed until the 14th minute, though, when John Gemmell sent a teasing ball across the face of goal. Steven Lawless squandered the first opportunity with a fresh-air shot but Love raced in at the back post to convert.

Albion squandered a couple of decent chances to double their advantage before Annan responded. Four minutes from the break the visitors were denied when Derek Gaston made a fine save from Aaron Muirhead but he was beaten when Sean O'Connor flicked Muirhead's thrown-in to veteran Harty, who netted from close range.

Rovers stepped up their game after the restart and were rewarded with a further double from Love. He tapped home Tony Stevenson's cross in 67 minutes and, soon after, linked with Gemmell before producing another clinical finish.

Albion: Gaston, Reid, Donnelly, Lumsden, McGowan, Canning, Stevenson, Chaplain, Love (Innes 85), Gemmell, Lawless (Ferry 74). Subs Not Used: Gilmartin, Hamilton, Benton.

Annan: Summersgill, Peter Watson, Neilson, Aitken, Docherty, Muirhead (Felvus 85), Steele, Macfarlane (Gilfillan 78), Steven Sloan, Harty, O'Connor. Subs Not Used: Jamieson, Jardine, MacBeth