Second Division: Brechin sever ties with Weir after fourth straight defeat

Brechin City parted company with manager Jim Weir in the wake of 
Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away to ten-man Ayr United.

The former Hearts player was recruited from Arbroath almost two and a half years ago and enjoyed a fine first season as Brechin reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup and just missed out on a First Division place when they lost in the play-off final against Ayr. They finished a lowly eighth last season and a run of four successive defeats this term has seen chairman Ken Ferguson lose patience. Ferguson said: “Football is a results-driven game and after a string of poor results the club has parted company with Jim Weir. We wish to thank Jim for the good times we have enjoyed and extend our best wishes to him for the future.”

Ayr’s win came after they had Austin McCann dismissed on 15 minutes for blocking a Gary Fusco header with his hand, although Ally Brown saved Andy Jackson’s penalty. Ayr made the most of the reprieve and Michael Moffat slotted home before half time, with Marc Twaddle and David Sinclair sealing the win.

Leaders Queen of the South made it six league wins out of seven when they beat Alloa 1-0 courtesy of a second-half strike from Nicky Clark. Wasps goalkeeper Scott Bain had been the busier custodian and he was finally beaten midway through the second half when Clark netted after Danny Carmichael’s shot was saved. Forfar manager Dick Campbell saw his goal-shy son Ross finally end a 
near-17-month drought when he netted a hat-trick in the 4-2 success at home to Albion Rovers. The striker grabbed the first three goals of the afternoon before Chris Templeman’s penalty made it 4-0 with Mark McGuigan and David Crawford striking late for Rovers.

Stenhousemuir and Arbroath both scored last minute goals in their 2-2 draw at Ochilview, with substitute Paul Currie thinking he had won it for the visitors until Kevin McKinlay headed in. John Gemmell had opened the scoring for the Warriors with Lee Sibanda levelling.

East Fife won their first league game this season, and they did it in style with a 6-2 success at Stranraer. Bobby Barr opened the scoring with Paul McManus and Gareth Wardlaw netting before the home side’s Ryan Borris headed in. Jamie Pollock scored two in the second half before Wardlaw completed his brace with Craig Malcolm netting a second for Stranraer.