Ladbrokes League 1: Dunfermline charge halted by composed Ayr
Published:
It proved to be another compelling weekend in Ladbrokes League 1, with a run of results leaving the top four sides separated by just a single point.
Former table-toppers but still league favourites, Dunfermline slumped to a second defeat of the season at home to Ayr.
The Honest Men grabbed a goal in each half at East End Park to move second in the table. They sit level on points with new leaders Forfar but with a slightly inferior goal difference.
Though Ayr have been in and around the sharp end since the start of the campaign, Dunfermline had fired in 21 goals in their opening five games.
Including cup games, the Pars had netted in every fixture prior to Saturday, netting a total of 36 goals.
The defeat for Allan Johnstone’s men has seen their odds in the league winners’ Market lengthen, with Ladbrokes making them 8/15 from 1/3 before the weekend.
Forfar took advantage of that result to return to the summit, thanks to a 2-0 win away at still-pointless Brechin.
Strikes either side of half-time from Derek Young and Omar Kader were enough to consign Brechin to a sixth-straight loss.
For the visitors, it proved to be the perfect tonic after a 4-0 hammering at home to Dunfermline the week before.
The form team in Ladbrokes League One however is arguably Airdrieonians, who negotiated their way to a fourth successive victory.
The Diamonds overcame Albion Rovers 3-1 at Cliftonhill and now sit just a point off the pace in fourth, with a home tie to fellow high-flyers Ayr to look forward to next.
Having been involved in matches contributing 25 goals this season, Stenhousemuir had a low-key yet successful weekend with a 1-0 win over Stranraer.
Allan Smith’s goal midway through the second half proved to be enough for the hosts, who also picked up their first clean sheet in the league this season as Stranraer suffered a fourth defeat in five matches.
The only draw this weekend came at Cowdenbeath, who twice came from behind to hold Peterhead 2-2.
The match was only the second time Cowden hadn’t lost this season, and the result was even more notable as they played most of the second half with ten men following Mohammed Yaqub’s dismissal shortly after the break.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
