RAITH Rovers left it late before seeing off Brechin City 2-0 to make it a magnificent seven victories in a row to keep their two-point lead at the top of the Second Division over Ayr United.
After a tight first half and hearing news that the Somerset Park men were two ahead of East Fife, midfielder Robert Sloan fired in a delightful 25-yard free kick to open the scoring with only a quarter of an hour left and Graham Weir shot home from
close range with six minutes remaining to secure the win and a vital three points.
Raith manager John McGlynn said: "Robert Sloan has magnificent ability when it comes to dead ball situations as he has shown throughout the season. We were aware on the bench that Ayr were winning early in the second half but I am not sure if the players picked up on it."
McGlynn's side face Queen's Park at Hampden next weekend and could pick up the title if Ayr falter at home to Alloa.
Ayr United defeated East Fife 2-0 to keep Brian Reid's men right on Raith's tail with their goals also coming in the second half. Mark Roberts hooked the ball home seven minutes after the restart and less than two minutes later Kenny Connolly scored a spectacular overhead kick in the net to seal the win. The Fifers' Bobby Linn was dismissed midway through the second half.
Reid has set his side a double target for next weekend's visit of Alloa. "A win over Alloa next week will keep pressure on Raith Rovers and see us go the entire season undefeated at home and that is our aims for just now," he said.
Peterhead secured their play-off spot by drawing 1-1 with nearest challengers Stirling Albion at Balmoor with Bobby Mann putting the Blue Toon ahead with a typically thumping finish only for Paul Murphy to equalise via a post shortly afterwards.
The draw finally put paid to the Forthbank side's quest for a play-off place. "It is disappointing not to get a play-off place as we were on course for one at the turn of the year," said manager Allan Moore.
Arbroath all but secured their survival in the Second Division with a Craig Forsyth goal and a strike from Robbie Ross seeing off relegated Stranraer, although Gayfield manager John McGlashan is not taking anything for granted yet. "We cannot switch off yet as we can still be caught," he said.
Alloa are still not certain of avoiding the relegation play-offs after a goalless draw with Queen's Park that leaves the Glasgow side four points behind the Recreation Park outfit in eighth.
Alloa manager Allan Maitland said: "We will be safe if we win at Ayr and that has to be our aim. That will not be easy as they are going for the title but we beat them the last time we played each other so we know we can do it."
Hampden head coach Gardner Speirs said: "Over the piece I thought we were the better team and deserved to win. We are still in there fighting and have had tight games with Raith Rovers all season and have beaten Stirling Albion twice this season, so who knows."
