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3 – Scotland moved one step closer to a World Cup play-off spot thanks to an exhilarating 3-2 victory over Israel at Hampden Park on Saturday. SPFL stars Craig Gordon, Nathan Patterson and Callum McGregor all featured as Steve Clarke’s side recorded a third consecutive victory to move four points clear with just three matches remaining in the race for second place in Group F. Scotland came from behind twice to win a game for the first time since October 1998 when they beat Estonia 3-2 at Tynecastle.
15 – Kilmarnock defeated Queen’s Park 3-1 at the BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park on Friday night to progress to the last eight of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Oli Shaw, Euan Murray and Callum Hendry scored the goals for Tommy Wright’s side as they bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Raith Rovers last weekend. Killie are unbeaten in their last 15 home matches against the Spiders, picking up 14 wins and a draw. Queen’s Park’s last victory over them in Ayrshire was way back in January 1953, when Seamus O’Connell scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
3 – Co-holders Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved into the quarter-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy thanks to a 4-2 victory over Elgin City at Borough Briggs. Billy Dodds’ side trailed 2-0 but came roaring back thanks to three goals from Billy Mckay and one from Lewis Jamieson. Mckay also scored a double against Buckie Thistle in the previous round – with five goals in two matches he is the competition’s top scorer. It was the Northern Irishman’s sixth hat-trick in Scottish football, and his first for Inverness since a 4-3 victory over Motherwell in May 2013. The Caley Jags have now faced the Black and Whites three times in competitive fixtures and have won all three.
13 – Fellow co-holders Raith Rovers also made it to the last eight of the SPFL Trust Trophy after being East Fife 3-1 at Stark’s Park. Rovers’ impressive form continued thanks to goals from Dylan Tait, Aidan Connolly and Matej Poplatnik – John McGlynn’s side have picked up three wins and a draw in their last four matches. Raith are now unbeaten in their last 13 Challenge Cup matches in Kirkcaldy – their last home defeat in the competition was back in July 2010 when they lost 1-0 to Cowdenbeath.
4 – Cove Rangers defeated Albion Rovers 4-1 at Balmoral Stadium to make their way into the last eight of the SPFL Trust Trophy. Amazingly, Cove didn’t get their first goal until the 79th minute but then proceeded to score four times in a 10-minute spell through Mitch Megginson, a Rory McAllister double and Jamie Masson. Paul Hartley’s side have now recorded four consecutive victories in all competitions and have five wins and a draw in their last six. These sides have now met four times in competitive fixtures, and Cove remain unbeaten, with two wins and two draws.
