Stranraer took full advantage of Alloa being idle as their scheduled opponents Peterhead were on Scottish Cup duty, to defeat hosts Montrose 3-1 and move back to the top of the Third Division.
The Recreation Park side do have a game in hand, however after coming from a goal behind and putting on an indifferent display Stair Park boss Keith Knox was happy to be heading home with a three point haul.
The Gable Endies struck in the third minute when Martin Boyle received the ball from Jamie Winter and shot home with the Blues pulling level 7 minutes from the break when Sean Winter converted from a tight angle after good work from Craig Malcolm.
Montrose’s Winter and Boyle rattled the Stranraer woodwork and Scott Johnston had a home goal ruled out for offside before the Stair Park men went ahead on 73 minutes.
Martin Grehan was the provider and Malcolm the scorer with a curling effort with top spot sealed 10 minutes later when Winter grabbed his second goal with the aid of a deflection.
Knox said, “We did not play well but this is the type of game we may look back on at the end of the season and be very grateful for the three points.”
Links Park boss Ray Farningham groaned, “Disallowing Scott’s goal was key as rather than being ahead 2-1 we found ourselves behind seconds later.”
Annan got their promotion push going again after a stuttering period by defeating visitors Clyde 1-0 to sit four points behind Stranraer. The Galabank men also have a game in hand and they meet Alloa next Saturday with the opportunity to move back into second place.
The only goal of the game came midway through the second half when Aaron Muirhead’s cross reached Sean O’Connor and he steered the ball away from Bully Wee goalkeeper David Crawford.
Elgin City also served notice that they intend to be involved in the promotion race as 2012 unfolds by defeating bottom side East Stirling 3-1 at Borough Briggs.
The game came alive just before half time when the home side’s Stuart Leslie converted a Mark Nicolson cross. Elgin’s joy was short-lived as Jamie Duff was penalised for handball in his own box and Bradley Coyne stepped up to net the resultant penalty and level matters at the interval.
The Moray men got their noses in front again when full back Archie MacPhee shot home from 20 yards with 17 minutes left and Jason Crooks ensured the points were staying in the north when he tucked the ball in after Craig Gunn had created the opportunity with just seconds remaining.
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