Second Division round-up: Iain Russell pounces to extend Livi lead

Livingston extended their lead at the top to three points thanks to substitute Iain Russell's goal in 64 minutes to see off hosts Airdrie United. Russell had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he netted from 12 yards after Kyle Jacobs shot against the bar after his shot-shy colleagues had missed several chances for the Lions.

Airdrie gave Gary Bollan's side a fright when Jamie Stevenson rattled the bar with a late free-kick, but an equaliser would have been unfair, according to Livingston coach Gary Bollan, who said: "We fully deserved to win and if we had taken the chances we had, it could have been game over in the first-half."

Brechin remain in second place after being held to a goalless draw at home to Forfar with the usually deadly Rory McAllister slamming the ball against a post before firing a shot and then a free-kick wide in the first-half.

Third-placed Ayr lost 3-2 at bottom side Dumbarton with the game turning the Sons' way when Jonathan Tiffoney was dismissed for fouling Kieran Brannan just before the half-hour mark and Alan Cook netting the resultant spot kick.

Trialist Patrick Walker made it two before ten minutes had been played in the second-half. Mark Roberts pulled a goal back only for Ross Campbell to re-establish a two-goal lead for Dumbarton. Andy Rodgers' injury-time goal was too late for the Honest Men.

Alloa won for the first time in four games when they defeated Stenhousemuir 1-0 at Recreation Park. They did it the hard way after playing most of the game with ten men. Bryan Prunty struck from close in after good play from Kevin McDonald ten minutes after half-time.

Ten-man Peterhead came back from two goals down at home to East Fife, who went ahead through Kurtis Byrne and Craig Johnstone. Martin Bavidge pulled one back with three minutes to go and Stuart Anderson thumped home from distance to grab a point. East Fife manager John Robertson said: "Three minutes of madness cost us."