Scottish Football Roundup: Ross County score 7 in League One, top two draw in Championship
Scottish football roundup (October 18): The latest round of fixtures in the Scottish lower leagues continued to serve up drama. The early table in the Championship looks tight as ever, with Stenhousemuir surprisingly leading the pack, and in League One Ross County and Hamilton Academical look set for a season-long battle at the top.
In League Two, Clyde and Stranraer are also neck-and-neck, 11 games into the season. Curva Scotland takes you through the results, table and stories from this weekend’s action.
Scottish Championship
Results:
Ayr United 0-1 Partick Thistle
Dunfermline Athletic 0-0 Livingston
Greenock Morton 2-0 Queen’s Park
Inverness 2-0 Arbroath
Stenhousemuir 1-1 Raith Rovers
Table Watch:
Stenhousemuir’s draw against closest rivals Raith Rovers means that The Warriors continue to stay at the top of the Championship table. Marvin Bartley’s side have upset the early-season odds with their form, and the result at Ochilview showed they are not ready to give up their position easily.
However, they will be chased by an eager Raith side, who are two points behind them in second place, having played a game more. Partick Thistle lie in the third spot, level on points with Rovers and will expect to remain in the promotion hunt throughout the season. Inverness, who are fourth with 16 points, cannot be counted out just yet.
At the other end of the table, Queen’s Park are at bottom after picking up just seven points from 11 games. Greenock Morton inflicted the Glasgow club’s fourth defeat in their last three games to move above them in the table, with both sides on the same points. Arbroath aren’t enjoying a great run of form at the moment either, and the 2-0 defeat in Inverness means they are in eighth spot with 11 points.
Match of the round:
Heading into this weekend, Stenhousemuir’s clash against Raith Rovers was the big one. The two teams met on the opening weekend of the season and played out a 1-1 draw at Stark’s Park. After that match, Stenny won seven matches in a row before their defeat to Inverness on October 10.
Hence, the match against Dougie Imrie’s side was going to be a test of their character and mettle. They took the lead through Michael Anderson after Raith failed to clear a corner. However, the visitors drew level right at the start of the second half through right-back Jai Rowe.
Raith had chances to go ahead, but some stout defending from The Warriors meant they came out with a credible draw and maintained their lead at the top of the table. Next week two exciting games will see the top four play against each other.
Stenhousemuir visit third-placed Partick Thistle, and Raith Rovers host fourth-placed Inverness.
Scottish League One
Results:
East Fife 0-3 Alloa Athletic
East Kilbride 1-1 Montrose
Peterhead 2-0 Cove Rangers
Queen of the South 1-7 Ross County
Airdrieonians 1-2 Hamilton Academical
Table Watch:
Ross County’s ruthless 7-1 thrashing of Queen of the South at the Palmerston Park meant they stayed top of the League One table. The Staggies are level on points with Hamilton, but boast a far superior goal difference.
East Kilbride’s draw against Montrose continued their impressive start to life in League One. Mick Kennedy’s team are third, albeit 10 points behind second-placed Hamilton. Montrose occupy the final playoff spot with 16 points, but they are closely followed by Airdrieonians in fifth spot, just three points behind.
Cove Rangers’ inconsistent form means they remain at the bottom with six points to their name. East Fife are three points ahead of them in ninth place, but just a point separates them from Peterhead in the seventh spot.
Match of the round:
While Ross County’s big win in Dumfries was impressive, Hamilton’s gritty 2-1 victory against Airdrieonians in the Lanarkshire derby was massive as well. Airdrie came into the contest with a four-match unbeaten run in the league and were always going to make things difficult.
But The Accies took the lead at the Albert Bartlett Stadium thanks to early first-half substitute Dominic Thomas. Thomas unleashed a powerful left-footed strike at the stroke of half-time after being played in by Aaron Comrie. But The Diamonds were level just three minutes into the second half.
19-year-old striker Josh Gentles saw his shot deflect and loop Hamilton goalkeeper Dean Lyness to make it 1-1. Gregor Crookston played a neat move with left-back Stephen Hendrie, who released him, and the 20-year-old Scottish midfielder placed a brilliant finish at the far post with just eight minutes left.
This win allows Darian MacKinnon’s side to stay level on points with leaders Ross County, and it looks like the League One title race could be fascinating this year.
Scottish League Two
Results:
Clyde 4-1 Annan Athletic
Dumbarton 1-1 Stirling Albion
Elgin City 0-0 Edinburgh City
Kelty Hearts 2-1 Forfar Athletic
Spartans FC 0-2 Stranraer
Table Watch:
Stranraer and Clyde continue to battle it out at the top, with both sides picking up impressive wins over the weekend. The Blues are top with 23 thanks to their goal difference, aided by a mean defence that has conceded just nine goals so far. Clyde are in second spot, with Darren Young’s team scoring 27 goals so far.
Elgin City are third, five points behind Clyde and Spartans FC, who have seen their form wobble of late, still occupy fourth spot. They are level on points with Kelty Hearts.
Annan Athletic are winless in four games and are at the bottom with nine points. More worryingly, the Black and Golds have let in 10 goals in their last two games. Forfar Athletic are two points ahead of them in 9th place, while Edinburgh City also have the same number of points, but are eighth due to their goal difference.
Match of the round:
Stranraer knew that a visit to the capital won’t be easy despite the current form of Spartans FC. With Clyde playing at home to the bottom side Annan and breathing down their necks, The Blues knew they had to deliver.
They made the ideal start when Archie Traynor’s cross was headed in by 17-year-old English striker Seb Mason. The league leaders should’ve doubled their advantage, but Traynor’s effort was kept out by Blair Carswell. The home side then had the chance to draw level moments later.
Marc McNulty’s lobbed pass caught Stranraer’s defence off guard and Ricardo Dinanga found himself one-on-one with Max Currie. However, the goalkeeper blocked the effort with his right foot. The miss proved to be costly as the visitors made it 2-0, 10 minutes into the second half.
Midfielder Aaron Healy received the ball on the left side and then cut in to place a shot beyond Carswell to extend the lead. The three points keep Chris Aitken’s side on top on goal difference. League One sides will be in action in the Scottish Cup next weekend, but when the action resumes on October 31, Stranraer will face Clyde in a blockbuster encounter.
