Cinch Scottish League One: Three things we Learned as East Fife Relegated
It was another weekend of thrills in League One as the season begins to wrap up with two weeks to go…
Morrison and Telfer strike for Falkirk to relegate Fifers
Morrison opened the scoring for the Bairns in the 34th minute, before Telfer doubled their advantage just before the hour-mark. Semple pulled one back for the Fifers from the spot with six minutes of normal time remaining, until Morrison scored his second in added time to seal the three points.
The defeat for the hosts confirms their relegation to League Two, ending their six-year stint in the third tier. It is a fifth consecutive loss for Stevie Crawford’s men, who has been unable to revive the club’s fortunes since he replaced Darren Young in November of last year.
Meanwhile, the victory is a positive end to the week for Falkirk, who announced on Thursday that Martin Rennie would be returning to the US and that former Rangers striker, Kenny Miller would take the team for the last three games of the season.
Next week, Falkirk welcome Alloa Athletic to the Falkirk Stadium for their final home game of the season, while East Fife travel to Peterhead, who won 2-1 at home against Queen’s Park.
Falkirk interim manager, Kenny Miller: “The lads worked ever so hard within the game, we made it hard for ourselves conceding the late penalty, but we re-grouped and scored another goal. We scored three really good, well-structured goals and it was good to end that losing run and get back to winning ways.”
Diamonds consign Sons to relegation play-offs in five-goal thriller
Airdrie denied Cove the league trophy as a last-gasp winner from Allan secured the win for Ian Murray’s men, while condemning Dumbarton to the gruelling relegation play-offs for a second consecutive season.
Goals from Easton and Gallagher in the space of three minutes had the Diamonds in control, before Stanger cut the deficit for the Sons’ in the 39th minute- the hosts then had Frizzell sent off two minutes later. An own-goal from McCabe brought the visitors level going into the final 20 minutes of the match, who looked likely to grab a point, until Allan’s late goal clinched the win for the 10-man hosts.
While the defeat confirms Dumbarton’s final league position in ninth, victory for the Diamonds means they halt Cove’s title party for another week, with the league leaders winning 3-0 against Alloa.
Next week, it the final North Lanarkshire derby of the season in Cumbernauld as Airdrie visit Clyde, who secured safety for a fourth consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Montrose- while Dumbarton take the trip up north to face Cove.
Airdrieonians manager, Ian Murray: “There has been very close games between both sides this season for various reasons, and today was no different. We started okay, it then got to the point when we were cruising, then it turned.
“We know it will take a complete collapse from Cove now, they have done brilliantly and we will congratulate them when the time comes.”
Dumbarton manager, Stevie Farrell: “We knew Clyde and Peterhead were winning so we had to go for it. We probably didn’t create enough chances for the amount of play we had in the second-half. The league doesn’t lie, we are ninth for a reason. We will take it one game at a time, from now to the play-offs and prepare for them.”
Cove ease to victory over Alloa but are made to wait for crowning glory
Cove have to wait another week to be crowned champions, despite easing to a 3-0 victory over Alloa at the Balmoral Stadium. Fyvie broke the deadlock for the hosts deep into the second-half and later doubled their advantage in the 83rd minute, with Milne completing the scoring just before stoppage time.
Despite second-placed Airdrie’s late winner, the win for the league leaders means they are still firmly the favourites to lift the trophy and have the opportunity to do so at home next week against Dumbarton. In addition, it also stretches their incredible unbeaten run to 24 matches. Meanwhile, the Wasps, who travel to Falkirk next Saturday remain sixth on goal difference.
Cove Rangers manager, Paul Hartley: “It was an important win and we’ve been stressing to the players over the past 24 games, that we are in control of our own destiny, just to take it game by game, focus and do what we can.”
Alloa Athletic manager, Brian Rice: “I feel we matched Cove throughout the match, created some really good chances and played really well.”
Scottish League One Results:
Airdrieonians 3-2 Dumbarton
Clyde 2-1 Montrose
Cove Rangers 3-0 Alloa Athletic
East Fife 1-3 Falkirk
Peterhead 2-1 Queen’s Park