Soccer
Stenhousemuir stay top but promotion still in Inverness’ hands after top two draw
Matthew Aitken ensured Stenhousemuir maintained their two-point lead over Inverness at the top of Scottish League One with a late equaliser from the penalty spot.
Aitken’s 81st-minute spot-kick cancelled Calum MacLeod 16th-minute opener as it finished 1-1 between the top two at Ochilview Park.
But Inverness can go top in midweek when they play their game in hand.
Third-placed Alloa’s mathematical hopes of automatic promotion were ended as Oli Shaw headed lowly Hamilton to victory.
Smith’s 56th-minute goal was all that separated the sides at the Broadwood Stadium on a day when Accies boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 win, just their second success in nine attempts in the league.
Benjamin Luissint’s 67th-minute strike from distance and a second from Reece Lyon with 11 minutes remaining eased Queen of the South to within a point of Alloa after a 2-0 home win over Cove Rangers.
Sam Culbert fired East Fife to a 2-1 home win over Peterhead which eased them further clear of the developing survival battle.
Brian Easton’s 15th-minute header put the home side in front, but Craig McGuffie levelled 11 minutes into the second half only for Culbert to claim just a second league victory in 17 attempts.
Cameron Cooper breathed new life into bottom-of-the-table Kelty Hearts’ battle against the drop with a double in a 3-1 home win over Montrose.
Aaron Arnott’s 51st-minute penalty – awarded for Lewis Gibson’s challenge on Luke McCarvel – gave the basement boys an early advantage, and although Blair Lyons dragged the visitors back into it, substitute Cooper struck with 22 minutes remaining and then again at the death to secure victory.
The race for the League Two title remains as close as ever after leaders East Kilbride and second-placed Spartans both lost.
The Kilby went down 1-0 at Forfar thanks to Stuart Morrison’s seventh-minute strike, while their closest challengers lost 2-1 at home to Stranraer.
Spartans, who were unbeaten in five before kick-off, fell behind to Sallu Turay’s early goal and although Mark Stowe made it 1-1 Aaron Quigg won it for the visitors with 17 minutes remaining.
Barry Cuddihy’s goal and a Scott Williamson’s 64th-minute penalty eased Clyde to a 2-0 win at Edinburgh City, who are now certain to be involved in a relegation play-off.
Dylan Ross’ 37th-minute own goal, an 85th-minute Willie Gibson penalty and a stoppage-time Tommy Goss strike earned Annan a 3-0 win at Elgin.
Goals from Scott Tomlinson and Scott Honeyman either side of Dave Hilson’s equaliser saw Dumbarton beat Stirling Albion 2-1 despite substitute Kai Kirkpatrick’s stoppage-time red card for violent conduct.
