Queen of the South close to Second Division title

Queen of the South took another step towards being crowned Champions with a 3-2 success at East Fife on a day when 26 goals were netted in just five Second Division games.

Gavin Reilly lobbed the Palmerston men ahead after 15 minutes while Paul McManus equalised midway through the second half. Parity, however, was not restored for long.

Nicky Clark shot home and Mark Durnan headed in to make it 3-1 with 21 minutes left and although Liam Gormley set up a frantic finish when he pulled a goal back, the Fifers could not force an equaliser.

The Doonhamers player/ manager Allan Johnston was not overly impressed with win number 22 of the season saying: “We showed great belief after losing the equaliser but overall we made life difficult for ourselves. To lose soft goals was annoying.”

New Bayview manager Billy Brown said: “We had given ourselves a chance at 1-1 and then we lost two pathetic goals.” Meanwhile, the race for the play-off places is heating up with second placed Alloa showing struggling hosts Albion Rovers no mercy with a 5-1 win to move 12 points clear.

Martin Grehan’s opener was added to by Calum Elliot’s double before half-time with Graeme Holmes and Kevin Cawley netting after Marvin Andrews had pulled a goal back.

Ayr re-established themselves as contenders coming back from a goal down to win 4-1 at Arbroath. Michael Moffat was the hero, scoring all four goals, including two penalties.

Stenhousemuir and visitors Brechin drew 3-3 with Alan Trouten putting the Glebe Park side ahead only for Mark Corcoran, Graham Hay’s own goal and John Gemmell to have the Warriors 3-1 up.

Ewan Moyes and David McKenna then levelled matters before Gemmell and Gary Fusco were dismissed.

Finally, Forfar defeated Stranraer 3-1 with Gavin Malin, Omar Kader and Chris Templeman all scoring before Craig Malcolm grabbed a consolation and the Loons’ Michael Bolochoweckyj was dismissed.