Second Division: Ryan McCord seals Alloa win

ALLOA bounced back from last weekend’s defeat by Stranraer to reduce Queen of the South’s leadat the top of the Second Division to six points by seeing off Forfar 2-1 at Recreation Park.

The game was won courtesy of an early double by midfielder Ryan McCord, who took advantage of a hesitancy in the visiting defence to score in the fourth minute, before lobbing in a second goal from 15 yards a quarter of an hour later.

Chris Templeman’s close-range header from a Dale Hilson corner got the Loons back into things a minute before the break, but Alloa always looked the more likely to score in the second half.

The game ended on a low note as Alloa’s Graeme Holmes and the visiting Stephen Tulloch were dismissed after a last-minute disagreement between the pair got slightly out of hand.

Delighted Wasps manager Paul Hartley said: “We had to graft hard to get the win so I am delighted. We would have liked to play super football but it was not really a day for that so I will settle for the win. The boys can go now and enjoy Christmas.”

Forfar boss Dick Campbell said: “We had most of the possession but did not do enough with it. Overall Alloa deserved to win.”

East Fife defeated Stenhousemuir 3-2 in atrocious conditions at New Bayview to move into a play-off place.

Bobby Barr fired the Fifers in front early when he lofted the ball home after a clearance by visiting goalkeeper Callum Reidford had landed in his path.

Steven Campbell headed home a Jamie Pollok cross for the second on 32 minutes with the Warriors pulling a goal back when Stewart Kean netted just before the hour mark.

Substitute Andy Rodgers restored parity with 21 minutes left when he nodded in a Bryan Hodge corner, but the scores were only level for two minutes as Scott McBride headed in the winner.