Cinch Scottish League One: Three things we learned
It was another action-packed week in League One, as the battle to avoid relegation begins to heat up…
East Fife put two past Dumbarton to reduce gap at the bottom
On-loan Kilmarnock forward, Kyle Connell broke the deadlock in the opening three minutes as the Fifers took a narrow one-goal lead into the interval.
Danny Denholm struck just after the hour mark to increase the host’s advantage, before Stuart Carswell was sent off in injury time for the visitors.
Victory for the Methil side gives them all three points in what could potentially become crucial in their fight for survival. Stevie Crawford’s men have only lost once in their last seven matches and now find themselves three points from safety.
However, it is a fourth consecutive loss for the Sons’ who have suffered back-to-back defeats without scoring for the first time since October as pressure mounts on boss Stephen Farrell.
Next week, Dumbarton welcome Falkirk to the Rock while East Fife are away to Clyde.
Dumbarton manager, Stephen Farrell: “I take full responsibility for the results and I don’t have any issue with taking that because it ultimately lies at my door. Any criticism that comes should come to me and rightly so.”
10-man Cove remain five points clear as they ease past Clyde
Mitch Megginson opened the scoring for the league leaders in the 30th minute. Harry Milne was then controversially dismissed five minutes later for a handball in the penalty area before Ally Love equalised from the resulting spot-kick for the visitors.
Fraser Fyvie then struck on the stroke of half-time as the hosts’ reclaimed their one-goal advantage going into the break.
Mark Reynold tripled Cove’s advantage six minutes into the second half before Leighton McIntosh added a fourth 20 minutes from time to cap off an impressive result for Paul Hartley’s men- who spent the vast majority of the match with 10-men.
The victory for the Toonsers’ ensures they maintain a five-point lead over second-placed Airdrieonians, with both teams set to play each other in a fortnight.
Meanwhile, Clyde is now six games without a win and has only won once in their last 11 games, albeit this defeat is just their third loss in the league since October.
The Bully Wee remain in sixth place, four points behind Falkirk and three points in front of Alloa, who drew away to Queen’s Park.
Next week, Clyde welcomes basement club East Fife to Cumbernauld, whilst Cove takes the trip to face Montrose.
Cove Rangers manager, Paul Hartley: “I thought we were comfortable after we went down a man and that was really pleasing. I don’t think we were put under too much pressure and we scored some really good goals at the right time.
“At this stage of the season, it’s all about winning, so it’s another great three points for us.”
Clyde boss, Danny Lennon: “Overall, it was a disappointing day for us, performance-wise and I thought for long periods of the game, we weren’t ourselves. Unfortunately for us today, we were forced to make changes, which presents opportunities for others to come in, and that’s what the squad is all about.
“But that doesn’t bring the continuity that we’ve had, we’ve got Page, Jamieson and Cunningham all out and those are three players that have been playing particularly well. As a team, those changes can affect the dynamic and I didn’t feel we were anywhere near the levels of where we should be.”
Smith at the double as second-place Airdrie put four past Falkirk
Callum Smith opened the scoring in the sixth minute for the visitors at the Falkirk Stadium. There was no goalmouth action until just after the hour mark when the in-form striker struck home his second goal of the match.
Callum Gallagher tripled the Diamond’s advantage in the 74th minute before Leigh Griffiths pulled a goal back for the Bairns two minutes later. That only proved to be a consolation as Gabriel McGill later rounded up the scoring for the visitors in the 83rd minute.
It is now 13 games unbeaten for Ian Murray’s Diamonds as they keep the pressure on league leaders Cove and remain six points in front of Montrose, who narrowly beat Peterhead.
Defeat for Falkirk sees them remain in fifth place, six points adrift of the promotion play-offs as they aim to avoid a fourth consecutive season in League One.
Next week, Airdrie welcomes Queen’s Park to the Penny Cars Stadium and Falkirk visits Dumbarton.
Falkirk head coach, Martin Rennie: “In the first five minutes we actually started the match well, but like so many times since I’ve been here, we ended up conceding the first goal.
“The second half was the concern because we are just making so many mistakes and we are making so many different errors across the park.
“I understand why the supporters are so angry. It’s not only about getting to the play-offs. It’s being in a position to win them and we are so far away from that.”
Airdrieonians manager, Ian Murray: “We played very well, we started the game at a great intensity and the players fully executed the game plan and tactics, so full credit to them.”
Scottish League One Results:
Cove Rangers 4-1 Clyde
East Fife 2-0 Dumbarton
Falkirk 1-4 Airdrieonians
Peterhead 0-1 Montrose
Queen’s Park 1-1 Alloa Athletic
