Third Division: Champions Alloa get the party in full swing despite being held to draw

Third Division champions Alloa were backed by a bumper attendance of more than 2,500 at Recreation Park for their final league game with the partying only very slightly muted by the 1-1 draw with Annan.

Paul Hartley’s side had to rely on a late goal from Stevie May for a share of the spoils, but that was all but forgotten about as the Wasps were handed the silverware, with the number of jubilant fans increased after Hartley had visited all the primary schools in Clackmannanshire handing out free tickets for the game.

The Galabank side threatened to put a dampener on the occasion when Graeme Bell netted in the first half, but May turned the ball home after a Steven Masterton free kick had hit a post.

Hartley said: “The chairman is ambitious for this club to be in the First Division, but we will look to do well in the Second first of all. I have already re-signed a number of players and have been working on things ever since we won the title four weeks ago.”

Queen’s Park finished in second place 14 points behind after losing 3-1 to fellow play-off contenders Elgin City at Hampden in a game where both sides rested key players. Archie MacPhee, Jason Crooks and Jamie Duff were all on target for the Borough Briggs club, before Craig Smith pulled a goal back.

Elgin’s opponents in the play-offs will be Albion Rovers and manager Ross Jack said: “Albion have play-off experience from last season and they will get our full respect. It has been great to reach the play-offs for the first time but there is no reason to stop now.”

The Spiders will face a Stranraer side that went down to their fifth defeat in a row as they lost 1-0 at Berwick. The home side’s Kevin McDonald saw a first-half penalty saved by David Mitchell before on-loan Hibs youngster Danny Handling scored the seventh goal of his seven game spell at the Borderers.

The Shielfield men lost Ben Miller to a red card with six minutes left, but they held on, with Blues boss Keith Knox expecting a quick return to form as he said: “We have been missing a few players but I am hoping that we will be at full strength for Wednesday.”

Peterhead defeated East Stirling to finish in fifth place thanks to goals from Jamie Redman and Scott Ross, and Martin Boyle hit a hat-trick as Montrose leap-frogged visitors Clyde in the final standings, with Terry Masson and Alan Campbell also finding the net.