1. Jamie McCormack (Stenhousemuir)
It started with both teams emerging to wrasslin’ superstar Daniel Bryan’s walk-on music and ended with a last second winner. There’s no getting away from it, Stenhousemuir versus Airdrieonians was a platinum-plated banger from start to finish. The Warriors 3-2 win on Saturday means they now lurk menacingly behind Eric Wolecki-Black’s team by just a single point, and although Airdrie retain their play-off spot, just, even Stranraer, who sit seventh, are now within striking distance thanks to Jamie McCormack’s brace. Stenny’s right-back arguably produced one of his best ever performances for the Ochilview outfit, so-much-so that Airdrieonians ended up resorting to nefarious means to try and stop him, with David Cox dismissed for aiming one of his jaggy elbows into his Chevy Chase. McCormack had the last-laugh though, in a moment that was even more spectacular than a Bryan Yes-Lock, nodding home the winner in the final few seconds before skiting across the frozen turf on his knees.
2. Andy Geggan (Dunfermline Athletic)
Like a smaller, west-coast version of Hibs, Ayr United occasionally hint at success, only to fritter it all away, with Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Dunfermline a microcosm of this never ending cycle of dismay and torment. 2-0 up at the home of the league-leaders, the half-time interval was all set up to be quarter-of-an-hour of singing, dancing and gorging on Stephen’s bridies, but instead they found their lead halved and down to ten men after Brian Gilmour juggled the ball off the line in the dying embers of the first-half. From likely-looking win to inevitable, spirit crushing collapse in just a few seconds, it’s the Ayr way. That Dunfermline didn’t have to be at their best must have been the most galling component of this match, although in Andy Geggan they once more had the game’s best-in-show, as he effectively policed the middle of the park. Ayr’s challenge is now all but done, and with an eight point lead over Peterhead having played a game less, the Pars look likely to be crowned champions sooner rather than later.
3. Scott Gallacher (Alloa Athletic)
Perhaps you weren’t aware as the media haven’t made much of a big deal about it recently, but Alloa have decided to narrow their park as they gamely battle to avoid the drop. A desperate final act or a clever within-the-rules ploy depending on your point-of-view, but judging by Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Rangers, the recent addition of former Hearts goalkeeper Scott Gallacher will be a far better help to them than a narrowing of the lines. It was largely Alloa’s back-four and custodian against Rangers for the first-half of the contest, as the away side created chance after chance, which were all lined up and squandered. Martyn “but I’m good at penalties” Waghorn was the chief culprit, but in defence of Rangers front-men, they were up against an inspired goalkeeper in Gallacher. Jack Ross may look like a US Police Detective who has an interesting back-story and plays hard-and-fast with the rules, but he’s certainly added a modicum of steel to the previously frail Wasps. As much as this was an unexpected point, however, the Clackmannanshire side need wins, and quickly.
4. Nathan Austin (East Fife)
Nathan Austin faces a big challenge next season in proving his worth as a Falkirk striker in the second, or even top tier, but he’s certainly demonstrating that he’s outgrown the confines of League Two. His opening goal in East Fife’s 2-0 win over Arbroath was his 18th goal of a wonderful campaign for the former Leven United man, while his general performance knocked his direct opponent Craig Watson bandy. The win was The Fife’s sixth in eight outings, and after the division had seemed so incredibly open for the bulk of the season when it come to finding a likely winner, the field has now seemingly been whittled to two. Gary Naysmith’s men remain just two points behind Elgin, the only side to have beaten them in their last eight fixtures. It’s all set-up for a fascinating run-in.
5. Mark Hurst (Elgin City)
Bungling Barry’s Clyde may be grubbing about in seventh place in League Two, but one thing’s for sure, at least they’ve been interesting this season. Take Saturday for example, which saw the club list just three substitutes, due to being unable to include new signings over a late tax payment. It would appear that the Bully Wee are every bit as efficient as filling in bits of paper as they are at scoring goals. As far as the game went, well, that was a rat-a-tat affair, involving three red-cards, two of which were for Clyde, as well as an early goal for Elgin which hinted at many more that ultimately failed to materialise, as Jim Weir’s team won by a goal to nil. It was slightly harsh on Clyde, especially considering their get-piled-in cavalry charge during the final 20 minutes or so, a period where Elgin’s goalkeeper Mark Hurst more than earned his crust. Elgin stay top, but Clyde continue to disappoint.
6. Thomas Orr (East Stirling)
Considering East Stirling were bottom of the table without an away win to their name up until Saturday afternoon, you wouldn’t have wagered too much of your hard-earned pay-packet on them triumphing at Hampden against Queens Park. However, in what was arguably the result of the weekend, The Shire ran roughshod over their loftier opponents, with Thomas Orr the focal point of a fine 3-0 win. Orr has now scored four times in six appearances for East Stirling since arriving on-loan from Morton last month, and his impressive mid-season introduction has come at just the right time, with the win taking Craig Tully’s side over Berwick who now sit at the foot of the table. With either Highland or Lowland league opposition lying in wait in the play-off, it’s an unenviable position to be in.
7. Darren Cole (Livingston)
After a difficult, and well publicised 45-minutes against Dumbarton recently, Darren Cole responded in the best possible fashion, as he helped quash Hibernian’s bright-young-things during Saturday’s drab 0-0 draw with Hibernian. It was an opportunity spurned by the Leith side after they’d learned of Rangers dropping points in the afternoon, although most of the credit should go to David Hopkirk’s new-look Livi. All of the new players played their part, from the defenders, Osman Kakay and Craig Halkett, to the midfielders, Mark Fotheringham and Josh Mullin, but it was Captain Cole, in-beside Fotheringham in the central area, who did the finest work, by disrupting the normally fluid talents of John McGinn and Liam Henderson. Despite being five points behind Dumbarton, the new blood might still save Livingston from finishing amongst the bottom-two.
8. Thomas O’Ware (Morton)
Nobody here at the Terrace is pals with Jim Duffy, either in real life or on Facebook, so we’re not entirely familiar with his likes and dislikes. However, a quick straw poll sees us believing he’d probably ‘like’ the pages of Ska impresarios Madness, recently revitalised science-fiction favourite The X-Files, and HP Sauce. While they’re all wild speculation, it’s a copper-bottomed fact that the Morton manager loves deploying a centre-half into his midfield, which to be honest has had mixed results during Morton’s steady if unspectacular league campaign. It got a big thumbs up on Saturday, though, as Thomas O’Ware filled in impressively during Morton 2-0 win over a toothless looking Dumbarton. That was partly attributable to Christian Nade hobbling off in the first-period, but even with him on the park the Sons continued to be a tentative unit. For Morton, however, a first home win after four successive defeat keeps them clinging to the flapping coat-tails of Queen of the South.
9. Kyle Hutton (Queen of the South)
The jury might not have been out on Kyle Hutton during his early performances for the Doonhamers, but the Palmerston attendees had certainly returned a verdict of ‘not proven’, as the former Rangers man struggled with his match fitness in his opening few games. However, with the momentum now with Queens who have won three from their last four encounters, Hutton, as he was on Saturday in their 1-0 win over St. Mirren, has been the brightest spark. While James Fowler’s team can hold onto possession reasonably well, they can be a stagnant team to watch at times, with players like Alex Harris, Ryan Conroy and Mark Millar, looking sideways and behind as readily as they look forward. Hutton, however, is far more interested in pushing on, as he demonstrated against a St. Mirren side who had looked rejuvenated under new boss Alex Rae. The win lifts Queens to fourth, their highest position since September, and whilst they’ve flattered to deceive at times, they do now look the most likely to finish within the play-offs.
10. Aiden Connolly (Raith Rovers)
Raith Rovers dropped out of the play-off spots after this 2-2 draw with Falkirk, although considering they’ve won just one league game since the 17th of October, the biggest head-scratcher is that it’s taken so long. There were signs on Saturday that the Kirkcaldy club might just be emerging from their chrysalis of crappiness that they disappear into every winter. Coming from behind twice, they may even have had the audacity to actually win for a change, if Kyle Benedictus hadn’t attempted to smash Miles Hippolyte’s ankle into paste, before deservedly receiving his red-card. Despite being approximately the same size as a Borrower, Aiden Connolly looks a smashing acquisition by Ray McKinnon, with his defence-lancing pass providing the assist for Raith’s second equaliser. With Falkirk almost certain to finish third, their season seems to be coughing and spluttering somewhat, which is exactly what they deserve for persisting to play Amarillo every time they score.
Written by Shaughan McGuigan