Queen of the South on brink of championship

QUEEN of the South’s 2-1 win at Alloa means that the Doonhamers can become the first side to secure a championship in Scotland this season if they see off Brechin City on Wednesday night.

The game could be switched to Forfar’s Station Park due to ongoing water-logging issues with Brechin’s Glebe Park home and the Dumfries side will have history on their side if the move goes ahead.

The Loons’ ground was used by Brechin at the weekend in their 2-1 win over Ayr and, if they opt to switch this one as well, Queens will be looking for a hat-trick of clinching titles in Forfar, after their successes in 1951 and 2002.

Dumfries fans are now hoping the snow recedes to allow them to make a trip to whatever Angus ground the game is played as the weather in the south west of Scotland meant that they could not travel in great numbers to Recreation Park.

They missed Queens taking the lead five minutes from half-time when top scorer Nicky Clark nipped in to shoot home a Chris Mitchell pass. However, Alloa rallied and Kevin Cawley levelled on 56 minutes when he headed home.

Calum Elliot hit the bar for Alloa before the winner came five minutes from time when Queens substitute Ryan McGuffie sent home a penalty after Derek Young had been fouled by Kevin Moon.

Queens player/manager Allan Johnston said: “We just want to keep winning games and we will see what this week brings us. Whatever happens I want us to beat the total of 88 points that Gretna secured and we are still on course for that.”

Disappointed Wasps manager Paul Hartley reckons the game turned on two penalty incidents, one that was given and one that wasn’t, as he explained: “Kevin is adamant that he did not touch their player and then seconds later the referee missed a handball in their box. It is very frustrating as I thought we were excellent in the first half.”

Brechin are now the only side that can stop Johnston’s men from lifting the title following their success over Ayr United at their adopted home.

Derek Carcary’s shot and Alan Trouten’s header had Ray McKinnon’s side two ahead after 19 minutes with the Honest Men pulling a goal back on 61 minutes when Liam Buchanan turned home a Michael Donald cross.

Ayr’s hopes of a leveller ended with quarter of an hour to go when Neil McGregor picked up his second yellow card and was dismissed.

The games at Albion Rovers, Arbroath and East Fife were all called off.