Cinch Scottish League One: Three Things we Learned
It was very much ‘as you were’ in League One with four out of five games ending in draws. With that in mind, let’s look at what we learned from another week in Scotland’s third tier.
Cove maintain seven-point lead at the top as Smith rescues point for the Diamonds
League leaders Cove maintained their seven-point gap at the top of the table in a 1-1 draw against nearest challengers Airdrie at the Balmoral Stadium.
Harry Milne had Paul Hartley’s men ahead in the early stages before Callum Smith equalised deep into the second half.
It is three draws in a row for Ian Murray’s Diamonds who are unbeaten in their last eight, while Cove hasn’t tasted defeat in 14 league matches.
Next week, Airdrie are at home to third-placed Montrose in what promises to be an entertaining match while Cove welcome fourth-top Queen’s Park.
Cove Rangers manager, Paul Hartley said: “I thought we had a lot of chances throughout the game, I thought maybe the last half hour we lost a bit of control in how we played, but overall I feel it was a fair result.”
On Harry Milne, who scored his first goal of the season, Hartley said: “I thought he was excellent today and scored a really good goal.”
Airdrieonians boss, Ian Murray: “It was a very good game and from my point of view, overall it was a fair result.
“I felt we started the game really sloppy and Cove scored a great goal from their perspective but a sloppy one from our perspective, so that was disappointing.
“After half-time, we dominated the second-half, but it took us that long to get going, so I think on the battle of the play and the chances, it was a fair result.”
Dowds grabs a point for Falkirk as Queen’s Park held
Connor Smith’s 15th minute opener had the Spiders ahead going into the interval at the Falkirk Stadium, however, Anton Dowds levelled the scoring for the Bairns shortly after the break. The Spiders, who remain managerless have only won once in 12 league matches, whereas the Bairns have won four.
With Clyde also drawing with East Fife, both teams remain fourth and sixth respectively, however the Spiders play the first of their two games in hand on Tuesday evening when they welcome Dumbarton to Firhill, while Falkirk travel to Alloa on the same day.
Next weekend, Queen’s Park travel up north to face Cove while Falkirk have the Saturday off due to Peterhead’s participation in the Scottish Cup.
Falkirk Head Coach, Martin Rennie said: “I didn’t think we started the game very well, we looked nervy, didn’t look on top of what we were doing and we lost a goal on the back of that.
“I think in the second-half, we came out well and dominated a lot of the game, Queen’s Park were dangerous on the break but I must admit it was one of those games where we were just looking for that last chance to go in.”
Queen’s Park, Director of Football, Marijn Beuker said: “It was a tough game, once again disappointed with the result but I must say I am proud of how the boys fought until the end. We created really big chances, which of course we need to score, because we need to win, we want to win.
“The reaction of the players who didn’t start and came on was something we look for, so that makes us a bit more happier.”
Henderson returns to halt Alloa’s winless run and ease pressure on manager Ferguson
Euan Henderson’s 14th minute strike ended Alloa Athletic’s 10 match winless run as they defeated Peterhead 1-0 at Balmoor to taste their first victory since October.
The 21-year-old on-loan Hearts striker returned to the Wasps after agreeing a deal to stay on loan until the end of the season.
The victory for the Wasps sees them overtake the Blue Toon in seventh place, ahead of their game in hand over sixth-placed Falkirk on Tuesday night.
For Jim McInally’s men, it is now five games without a win and as a result of Dumbarton’s draw to Montrose, they find themselves only a point in front of the relegation play-off spot.
Next weekend, Peterhead are involved in the Scottish Cup Fifth Round as they host Premiership side Dundee, while Alloa welcome East Fife to the Indodrill.
Peterhead manager, Jim McInally said: “It’s obviously disappointing to lose the game and I don’t think the result reflects the game to be honest.
“In the first half they were up the park once and they get a goal from a mistake.
“Apart from that, I thought we dominated the game and dominated possession.”
Alloa Athletic boss, Barry Ferguson said: “We know we need to start running more, and we did, so it was pleasing to get the three points.”
Scottish League One: Results
Cove Rangers 1-1 Airdrieonians
East Fife 0-0 Clyde
Falkirk 1-1 Queen’s Park
Montrose 1-1 Dumbarton
Peterhead 0-1 Alloa Athletic
Scottish League 1 Table