Hartley hoping May can extend stay after first win over Annan

Alloa moved back into top spot in the title race after they secured their first success over title rivals Annan with a 1-0 win at Recreation Park.

Fans of the Wasps will be hoping that Rangers’ pursuit of St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza continues to be unsuccessful as it could prove very helpful in their own Championship chase.

On-loan Perth youngster Stephen May scored the winner after half an hour when he shot home from distance after Ryan McCord had touched the ball into his path. Everyone in Clackmannanshire is now hoping that, if Sandaza stays at McDiarmid Park, May can extend his loan spell at the club.

Manager Paul Hartley said: “It is good to get the Annan monkey off our backs. Stevie’s deal runs out next weekend and we really hope we can keep a hold of him. He is enjoying it with us and is being developed in a first-team environment, so hopefully he will remain here.”

Annan boss Harry Cairney said: “It was a good performance from us but not a good result. The players deserve praise for battling all the way.”

Stranraer slipped to second place after drawing 2-2 with Berwick with the Stair Park relying on a leveller from Craig Malcolm to earn a point in what was the Borderers’ third 2-2 draw in a row and their fourth in five games.

Stuart McColm had given the Blues an early lead before Steve Notman and Lee Currie had turned things around before half-time. However the points were shared when Malcolm scored with 15 minutes left. Queen’s Park’s Martin McBride scored a free-kick to open the scoring against Elgin and put his team on the road to a thumping 6-0 win. Jamie Longworth scored four in 25 second-half minutes to grab the glory with Craig Smith heading in the sixth.

To add to the growing sense of excitement for the Championship chase in 2012, the quartet of leading clubs face each other next weekend. The Wasps travel to Stranraer and Annan host a fourth-placed Queen’s Park now bursting with confidence.

Montrose and visitors Clyde were goalless at half-time, but David McGowan, Scott Johnston, Jamie Winter and Stephen McNally all netted for the Gable Endies in the second half to secure a 4-0 win.

Peterhead showed that there was no hangover from their high-profile Scottish Cup tie against Celtic, with Dennis Wyness scoring the only goal as they defeated bottom side East Stirling 1-0.