Division Two: Dumbarton surge clear in race for the play-offs

Dumbarton moved ten points clear of Stenhousemuir in the race for a play-off place last night as they defeated the visiting Warriors 3-0 to record an eighth win in nine unbeaten games.

The Sons took the lead n the first minute when Bryan Prunty scissor-kicked home an Alan Lithgow knock-down in fine style. It was two before half time when Mark Gilhaney fired in after a scramble and the second half saw Scott Agnew curl home the third from 20 yards.

Whilst Dumbarton are looking good for a place in the end of season promotion shoot out, five teams can now lay claim to having a chance of being there as well, after Forfar beat East Fife 3-2 in a game that saw three penalties awarded and scored.

The Loons raced into a two goal lead at Station Park with Nicky Low scoring on four minutes and Chris Templeman converting the first spot-kick 11 minutes later. Robert Sloan converted from 12 yards for the Fifers, but Templeman volleyed in 19 minutes into the second half to restore the two-goal advantage. Ryan Wallace scored with the third penalty of the evening in injury time, but it was too little and too late.

At the foot of the division, Stirling Albion are now only separated from Albion Rovers by goal difference after a 3-1 win at Brechin City. Alan Cook fired them ahead when he lashed home three minutes from the break and just 90 seconds later Mark Ferry was perfectly placed to score after Darren Smith had been denied. Gary Thom nodded in a third for Albion on 62 minutes, with the home side pulling a goal back through Paul McManus’s header a minute later.