Rovers victory spot on after early penalty boost
raith rovers 4 Montrose 1
Raith – Nisbet (pen 2), Murray (32), Buchanan (56), Mcguffie (83); Montrose – Masson (63) Raith brushed aside Montrose to keep up the relentless pursuit of leaders Arbroath.
The hosts started strongly and were awarded a penalty after just two minutes when Kevin Nisbet was fouled by Allan Fleming, and Nisbet sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with the spot-kick.
Nisbet almost added his 23rd goal of the season a few minutes later but his header drifted wide.
Liam Buchanan should have done better after half-an-hour, but fired carelessly wide with a clear look at goal.
But Raith were not to be denied and, two minutes later, Euan Murray nudged the ball home from from close range. There was no way back for Montrose when Buchanan scored his 10th goal of the season with a rising shot after 56 minutes.
Terry Masson gave the visitors hope when he pulled a goal back after 63 minutes with a 25-yard shot.
Craig Mcguffie sealed it seven minutes from time with a deflected shot which left Fleming with no chance.
arbroath 3 airdrieonians 2
Arbroath – Linn (43, pen 59, pen 63); Airdrieonians – Carrick (27), Duffy (52) The visitors weathered an early storm and began to create a few openings, with Ryan Conroy shooting narrowly past and Josh Campbell sending an effort wide. The Diamonds took the lead on 27 minutes, Dale Carrick slotting home after Darryl Duffy had broken through.
Just before the interval, Bobby Linn spectacularly blasted a 20-yard free-kick into the net to level the score.
Airdrie regained the lead seven minutes after the restart, Duffy sidefooting home from close range.
It was all square again in the 59th minute, Linn converting a penalty after Jason Thomson was tripped in the box.
Linn completed his hat-trick with an identical penalty conversion soon after after a foul on David Golds.
Danny Denholm missed a golden chance to put the Lichties further ahead right at the end.
east Fife 3 dumbarton 4
East Fife – Slattery (54), Smith (58), Dowds (65); Dumbarton – Thomas (20, 42, 62), Gallagher (36) The Sons grabbed the initiative when Calum Gallagher’s neat flick to Dom Thomas saw him lash an unstoppable effort beyond Brett Long. Dumbarton made it 2-0 on 36 minutes when Gallagher slid a neat finish beyond Long.
Just before the interval, Thomas rifled a terrific shot home from the edge of the box for 3-0.
East Fife needed an goal early in the second 45, and got just that when Pat Slattery netted from close range.
Soon after, it was 3-2 when Kevin Smith headed home from close range.
Thomas then netted his hat-trick to restore Sons’ two-goal lead only for Anton Dowds to reduce it to one again.
East Fife’s Chris Kane was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Thomas with quarter-of-an-hour to go.
Forfar 2 stenhousemuir 1
Forfar – Bain (50), Baird (63); Stenhousemuir – Hurst (70) After a goalless first half, Forfar looked more threatening at the start of the second period and Brad Spencer was inches away from the opener with a cute shot which hit the bar.
On 50 minutes Forfar took the lead when Jamie Bain drilled home a low shot from the 18-yard line.
Stennny’s Alan Cook went close to equalising with a powerful drive that stung the hands of Marc Mccallum. However, it was the home side who doubled their lead in the 63rd minute when John Baird went clear on the keeper and he made no mistake. Stenhousemuir pulled one back in the 70th minute when Greg Hurst slammed home from six yards.
Brechin CITY 1 stranraer 2
Brechin – Smith (32); Stranraer – Cameron (34), Hamill (70) Brechin had the first chance in three minutes when Craig Thomson had a drive parried by Max Currie.
The home side took the lead in 32 minutes. A lovely ball from Tam Scobie was headed down by Andy Jackson and Euan Smith slid in to score.
Stranraer replied two minutes later. Kyle Turner crossed from the left and Innes Cameron flicked home on the near post.
Seconds into the second half, Smith and Ross Kavanagh combined for Brechin to get the ball to Lewis Toshney and his shot hit the keeper.
Stranraer scored what proved to be the winner in 70 minutes. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box and Jamie Hamill stepped up to fire the ball through the defensive wall.
Three minutes from time, Craig Thomson of Brechin was given a second booking for a foul on Grant Anderson.