IRN BRU SFL Second Division Weekend Round Up
Tuesday 17th August 2010
Promoted Forfar are the pace setters in the Second Division and they are now the only side with a perfect record of played two and won two after their 2-1 triumph against a Peterhead side that are finding it hard to transfer their Cup form into League games.
Graham Gibson headed the visiting Loons in front before Dale Hilson capitalised on a mistake by Blue Toon defender Callum Macdonald to curl in a second before half an hour had been played.
The home side got a lift when visiting goalkeeper Scott Gallagher was dismissed with 20 minutes left for bringing Martin Bavidge crashing to the ground outside of his box. Conor Gethins pulled a goal back, however Dick Campbell’s men held on for the win.
The Station Park boss beamed afterwards, “I thought we were really good in the first half but I knew we would face a bit of pressure in the second period and we did. The players stuck to their task even when we went down to ten men and I have to say that I felt the referee’s decision was the correct one.”
Balmoor’s Neale Cooper was far from pleased saying, “Our cup form has been good but the league is our bread and butter. We need to cut out our mistakes and Callum needs to sharpen up as he has costs us goals in the last couple of games.”
Stenhousemuir and Brechin City sit in second and third place respectively after playing out a goalless draw against each other at Glebe Park where Jim Weir’s home side had the better openings.
Rory McAllister came within inches of scoring in the first half with a right foot drive that smashed against the woodwork. City were also frustrated when whistler Crawford Allan turned down late penalty appeals for handball on the Warriors goal-line.
Weir said afterwards, “You are always disappointed not to win your home games but I cannot fault the efforts of my players. We had the better chances and to be positive we kept a clean sheet again.”
Ochilview manager John Coughlin was pleased that his side came through unscathed saying, “Brechin will challenging at the top end of the table this season so to get a point on the back of our win over Dundee is acceptable to me.”
Alloa’s summer signing from Bathgate Thistle, Jim Lister opened up his goalscoring account on Saturday when he notched the winner in their 3-2 triumph over East Fife.
Team-mate Andy Scott did not have such a good day missing an opening minute penalty and then blazing over an open goal in the final seconds of a goalless first half.
Five minutes into second half Bryan Prunty pounced from four yards to fire home, however Alloa’s lead only lasted three minutes as Craig Johnstone slid in to net.
The Fifers went ahead on 64 minutes when Jonathan Smart headed in from six yards out, however they too lost the lead quickly with Kevin McDonald netting from the spot after he had been brought down by Robert Sloan.
That left the stage set for Lister to win the game on 78 minutes when he rose highest to head home a McDonald free kick.
The striker is now out to repeat his goalscoring feats of last season where even his mis-kicks found the net.
Lister, who scored 38 times in the Juniors last season said, “It was a brilliant feeling to score on my home debut and hopefully I can repeat what I did at Bathgate last season where even my scuffed shots went in.”
Wasps’ boss Allan Maitland reckons that his team’s win was further proof that his side have changed style this season. Maitland said, “Last season this game would have finished one nil to us or one-one. We have changed things about to make us a better attacking side and that showed, although of course that makes you more vulnerable at the back.”
New Bayview boss Steve Crawford was not so pleased saying, “We can not afford to be scoring two goals every week and not picking up points. I am really disappointed with their winning goal as the ball was in the air for a long time and nobody put in a challenge.”
Livingston won 2-1 at Dumbarton with former Son Iain Russell scoring the winner from close range in 77 minutes just 6 minutes after team-mate Michael O’Byrne had been dismissed.
The Third Division Champions had taken the lead the lead midway through the first half after Russell had been fouled by Ben Gordon in the box and Robbie Winters fired home the resultant spot kick.
Half time substitute Scott Chaplain netted from the same spot as Winters with 20 minutes left to level things after O’Byrne had been dismissed for tugging back Paul Maxwell.
The West Lothian ten men responded positively and Russell converted a Paul Watson free kick at the second attempt to win the game. Manager Gary Bollan beamed, “It was a hard fought game, however I thought the players showed they are capable of operating at this level.”
Strathclyde Homes Stadium manager Jim Chapman was remaining positive saying, “I thought the effort from my players was excellent.”
The new pitch may be artificial, however there was nothing fake about the passion during Airdrie United’s 2-2 draw with Ayr United that ended with three red-cards being shown.
The Honest Men took the lead when former Diamond Mark Roberts scored after just 5 minutes and things looked even rosier for Brian Reid’s side when Jamie Bain was dismissed in 27 minutes for clattering into another ex-Airdrie player, Alan Trouten.
Roberts made it two with 17 minutes left, however Airdrie were thrown a lifeline when visiting goalkeeper David Crawford was dismissed after being judged to have used an arm to push away Ryan Donnelly.
Ryan Wallace put the spot kick past Ayr sub Ryan McWilliams and Donnelly fired in an equaliser on 85 minutes before Wallace became the next dismissal for a foul on Dean Keenan.
Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle praised his young side’s spirit saying, “We remained positive despite some mistakes earlier on. The spirit is great but it needs to be more disciplined as we can not have men sent off every week.”
Ayr boss Reid fumed, “The referee gave them a gift as he was the only person who saw a penalty. It became a comedy show and we will be appealing David’s dismissal.”