Second Division: Crushing win for Queen’s Park

QUEEN of the South clocked up win number 20 of the season as they saw off hosts Stranraer 5-0 to keep their vice-like grip on top spot in the Second Division.

The Doonhamers now need to pick up another seven victories from their remaining 12 games to be crowned champions.

The Dumfries men opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Paul Burns side-footed home and the game was effectively over seven minutes later when Ryan McGuffie scored a penalty after home goalkeeper David Mitchell was sent off for pulling Nicky Clark to the ground.

Derek Lyle made it 3-0 at half-time when he converted a Daniel Carmichael cut-back, with Clark smashing home the fourth just before the hour and Lyle completed the scoring with a low drive. Player/manager Allan Johnstone praised his side’s professionalism, saying: “Stair Park is a hard venue and the pitch isn’t great, either, but the boys stuck to the task in hand. Even when they went down to ten men, our players carried on doing their jobs well.

“It was another good all-round performance.”

Opposite number Stephen Aitken said: “Two goals down and our goalkeeper sent off made it an impossible task against a side that could walk towards the title.”

Second-placed Alloa left it late to win 1-0 at Forfar, with Ben Gordon heading in the winner, just as he had done against the Loons at Station Park back in October.

On that occasion, Alloa won 3-2 in an exciting contest, whereas Saturday’s game was a drab affair which was settled when Gordon nodded in a James Doyle free kick via the woodwork in the last minute.

Brechin came out of five weeks in cold storage to win 1-0 at Arbroath and record win number nine in the dozen league games Ray McKinnon has been in charge.

Their winner also came late, with Alan Trouten lobbing over Scott Morrison with just three minutes left.

Stenhousemuir may yet make a push for the play-offs after they came from behind to defeat East Fife 2-1 at Ochilview.

Scott McBride’s free-kick gave the Fifers the lead on 55 minutes, but Bryan Hodge equalised from 20 yards before volleying home the winner with five minutes left.

Ayr eased worries of a relegation scrap and started talk of a promotion fight with a 5-2 success over bottom of the table Albion Rovers. Michael Moffat grabbed a hat-trick and Michael Donald a brace to move the Honest Men 12 points clear of their Coatbridge rivals, who had trialist Robbie Winters to thank for their goals.