Home win sees Arbroath moving into division one

Both sides had opportunities in the first half before Arbroath began to take control of the match.

After a series of missed chances, they had to wait 75 minutes before John Cusick struck following a handling mistake by keeper Willie McCulloch.

Nine minutes later, Jim Mercer nodded in a flick by Steve Mallan to spark celebrations for John Brownlie's men and their supporters, who ran on to the pitch after the final whistle.

News of Arbroath's success seemed to knock the stuffing out of Stranraer, who surrendered a 3-1 lead over champions Partick Thistle and eventually went down 4-3. This result brought to an end Thistle's three-game winless run, which started when they clinched the second division title at Forthbank.

Ian Harty put Stranraer ahead midway in the first half but that was quickly cancelled out when Mark McNally flicked home a Danny Lennon cross.

Paul Walker then took charge for Stranraer with a double before the break.

Barry Elliot pulled one back after the interval and Scott McLean - the second division's player of the year - gave Thistle's large travelling support something more to cheer when he

struck to level the scores in 63 minutes.

Only two minutes remained when substitute Paul McGrillen ran on to an Elliot pass and shot home to complete the Jags' fightback.

Stirling Albion's seventeenth draw of the season condemned them to third division football next term.

They drew 1-1 against Queen of the South, who just missed out on promotion but seem certain to hold the key to relegation, as they have to visit Forfar tomorrow and then host Queen's Park the

following Saturday.

The Dumfries men opened the scoring midway in the first half with a great 15-yard volley by top scorer Peter Weatherson following a corner.

The visitors almost made it

2-0 but Warren Hawke's effort was cleared off the line.

Stirling rallied and Craig Feroz headed in a Kevin McCallion cross to level it up in 52 minutes.

That gave Albion a bit of encouragement but they needed a win to retain any chance of survival.

Forfar kept alive their hope of surviving the drop by securing a 2-0 at Hampden against third-bottom Queen's Park, the team that they hope to catch.

The Angus team managed to hit the woodwork three times through Liam Keogh, Andy Cargill, and Willie Stewart but the match seemed to be heading for a goalless draw until nine minutes from time.

Ian Ferguson took the ball along the 18-yard line before sending in a shot.

Three minutes later substitute Stewart, whose pace troubled the home defence, punished a defensive blunder.

Forfar have to entertain Queen of the South tomorrow and then Stirling on Saturday, when Queen's Park have to travel to Dumfries.

With a five-goal edge in goal difference, Forfar would become favourites to avoid the drop if they were to close the three-point gap behind the Hampden team, who accompanied them up from the third division last summer.

Stenhousemuir and Clydebank finished goalless at Ochilview in a game where there was nothing at stake but it was not through a lack of effort.

Simon Mensing set up Isaac English but the division's joint-top scorer was unable to add to his 18-goal tally when David Wylie saved his header. Mensing also was denied a couple of times by the in-form Wylie.

The Warriors forced a series of corners in the closing minutes but failed to capitalise.