SLF clubs are thrust back into action

While Berwick Rangers, Elgin City, Forfar and Livingston all faced SPL sides, four all-SFL games were played and opposition from the Highland League, the South of Scotland League and the north of England also featured on the fixture list.

Gary Bollan's Second Division title-winning Livingston side achieved the best result against higher league opponents when they drew 1-1 with First Division winners Dunfermline at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium.

Martin Hardie headed Dunfermline in front after six minutes from a Joe Cardle corner but Iain Russell slid home a quick equaliser.

Dunfermline took the field in the second half with a new starting XI, with manager Jim McIntyre saying: "The players are not at their fittest yet but a game like this is all about getting your decision-making and touch back, but more importantly your fitness."

Bollan was pleased with his side's efforts and said: "We are preparing for life in the most competitive league in Scotland and it was a great workout."

Dundee United left Station Park with a 2-0 win and an injury headache ahead of next week's Europa League first leg against Slask Wroclaw after midfielder Scott Robertson injured an ankle.

Forfar's Jamie Bishop inadvertently turned home a Willo Flood cross to give the Tannadice men the lead and Jonny Russell converted a pass from Scott Allan to complete the scoring. David Goodwillie played as a substitute as talks over his future continue.

Elgin hosted Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Borough Briggs and went down 3-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Richie Foran who opened the scoring with a fine overhead kick 11 minutes from half-time.

Foran netted twice more in the second half and his manager Terry Butcher said: "It is always good to see a striker amongst the goals in pre-season."

In the all-SFL affairs, Steven Pressley got the better of his former Hearts team-mate Paul Hartley in the first managerial meeting between the pair as Falkirk defeated Alloa 4-2 at Recreation Park.

The recently-signed striker Armand One scored at the wrong end to put Falkirk ahead before Kallum Higginbotham and trialist Farid El Alaquine made it three before half time.

Former Partick Thistle player Pedram Ardalany pulled a goal back with a lob from distance in the second period only for Tam McManus to make it four to Pressley's men.Graeme Holmes reduced the deficit back to two before the end and Hartley said: "I am more interested in the performance and fitness at the moment than the result and I am happy with what I have seen." Pressley was also pleased, adding: "We kept our shape really well."

Albion Rovers began their preparations for life in Division Two with a 3-0 win over Stranraer. Striker John Gemmell scored twice and Chris Hamilton hit a late third.

Rovers manager Paul Martin said: "John looked really sharp up front and I was really happy with the level of performance I got. But Stranraer had a game on Friday night as well so I am not reading too much into things."

Another manager keeping cool was Queen's Park head coach Gardner Speirs who had watched his side defeat Airdrie United 4-1. Darryl Meggatt, Michael Daly and Tony Quinn were their scorers, and Speirs said: "We passed the ball about really well but Airdrie had a number of trialists in their team and I am not getting carried away with things."

Montrose defeated a much-changed Stenhousemuir side 2-0 at Links Park with the re-signed Martin Boyle and trialist Scott Jackson grabbing the goals. Manager Ray Farningham said: "We had five trialists playing and they all did well. I will speak to them over the next couple of days and see what develops."

Ross County travelled to Brora Rangers and won 2-0 with Steven Craig chipping in the first goal ten minutes from half-time and new boy Russell Duncan capitalising on a poor pass back from his former ICT team-mate Stuart Golabek to net six minutes from the end. County manager Derek Adams said: "It was a good workout especially as Brora were hard to break down. We moved the ball around well and came through it with no injuries so that is pleasing as well."

Partick Thistle's training camp at the Army Barracks at Catterick last week appeared to catch up with them as they went down 2-0 at Blyth Spartans. Manager Jackie McNamara said: "It was a fitness exercise but we were off the pace in the second period and that disappointed me."

Shaun Vipond and Phil Cave were the goalscorers for the Blue Square North side.

Annan scored in each half against hosts Threave Rovers at Castle Douglas's Meadow Park as the sides fought out a 2-2 draw.