PETERHEAD stepped up their bid for a play-off place with a 1-0 victory over a Raith Rovers side who have now lost four of their last five games.
In one of only two games in the division to beat the weather, Stuart McKay scored the only goal to move the fourth-place Balmoor men to within two points of stuttering Rovers.
"It's a massive result for us," said Peterhead manager Neale Cooper.
"All we can do is try to keep winning, but we fear no-one. Earlier in the season we were a soft touch."
The Kirkcaldy side were genuine title contenders as little as two months ago, but John McGlynn's side now find themselves in a battle just to make the play-offs. "Our form has not been great but it does not help with three centre halves sitting in the stand," said the Raith manager.
Although Rovers still occupy third place, their rivals – Peterhead, Alloa and Brechin – all seem to have momentum in their favour in the battle to finish in the top four.
Alloa kept themselves within a point of the play-off zone after a late penalty from Brown Ferguson gave them a 2-1 win away to rock-bottom Berwick Rangers. Ferguson had earlier opened the scoring with a 20-yard strike after just two minutes, but the hosts levelled through on-loan Hibs youngster Blair Tolmie.
However, after Alloa's Fraser Forrest had been red-carded, Allan Maitland's men dug deep to clinch victory with just three minutes left when Ferguson converted from the spot after Berwick goalkeeper Peter Logan was sent off for hauling down Joe Andrews in the box.
"Berwick dominated for much of the game and deserved at least a point," admitted Maitland. "We were lucky."
The full article contains 308 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
