Queen of the South can clinch championship this week

A WEDNESDAY night at Brechin’s Glebe Park may not sound like the most exciting prospect in world football, but it could mean everything to Queen of the South as they can clinch the Second Division Title at the Angus ground under their own steam before March is out.

Saturday’s 2-0 win over visitors Ayr United means that the job could be done even sooner if the Doonhamers win their next two games. That would leave second-placed Alloa unable catch them and Brechin would be the sole challengers. However, Ray McKinnon’s side will need to win the four games they have between now and their March 27 meeting with Allan Johnston’s men just to keep the race alive.

Queens’ latest success at Palmerston came courtesy of a Derek Lyle shot just before half-time and Gavin Reilly’s goal on the hour mark.

Johnston said: “It was an excellent team performance from the first whistle to the last. We dominated the game and, to be honest, we should have scored more than the two goals we did.”

Second-placed Alloa were held to a 1-1 draw at Stenhousemuir with Ryan McCord’s first-half penalty after Callum Elliot had been fouled by Scott Buist cancelled out in the second half by Darren Smith’s six-yard finish.

Third-placed Brechin saw their game with Forfar at Glebe Park called off, leaving them with 15 games to be played before the end of the season.

Fellow promotion-chasers Arbroath defeated hosts East Fife 1-0 thanks to Graham Bayne’s late goal, a result which sent the Fifers, who had had the best of the game, into second-bottom spot.

Bottom-of-the-table Albion Rovers looked on course to pull to within six points of opponents Stranraer when David Crawford and Pat Walker put them two up after just half an hour at Stair Park.

However, Craig Malcolm pulled a goal back before half-time and he then scored twice in the second half to complete his hat-trick and secure a 3-2 win for his side.