Elgin, who were missing seven first-team regulars, pushed leaders East Fife all the way before going down to a 1-0 defeat.

Craig McMillan struck a brilliant 69th-minute winner to maintain his side's two-point lead over Morton.

Elgin began brightly with Russell McBride going close early on, but it was the visitors who created the better chances.

Gordon Love and Kenny Deuchar both wasted excellent first-half openings, as did McMillan, who saw his close-range shot saved by Martin Pirie.

But McMillan redeemed himself with just over 20 minutes remaining when he volleyed Euan Donaldson's corner into the top corner.

High-flyers Morton had substitute David McGregor to thank for going second in the Third Division table with a 2-1 victory over Albion Rovers.

McGregor struck four minutes from time to seal the win over a Rovers side who would have been full value for a point.

The hosts went ahead in the 10th minute when the lively Alex Williams took advantage of some static defending to blast home.

But Rovers responded well to the setback and deservedly got back on level terms thanks to Jim Mercer's clever finish in the 29th minute.

Gretna stretched their unbeaten run to five games, but were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw by a hard-working Peterhead outfit.

The home side weathered a 10-minute storm at the start but gradually took control, with Michael Galloway excellent in midfield.

Mark Dobie should have opened the scoring midway through the half, but Mark Simpson's superb last-ditch header deflected the ball over.

Simpson turned villain in the 44th minute when he tripped John Hore in the box and Dobie fired home from the spot.

Peterhead raised their game after the break and equalised in the 81st minute when a mix-up in the home defence allowed Keith Robertson to fire home.

New Queen's Park manager Kenny Brannigan's first match in charge ended in a dramatic 4-3 defeat against East Stirling.

It started so well for Brannigan when John Gemmell scored with a powerful header from a James Allan free-kick after three minutes. Then, less than a minute later, Gemmell added a second with a clever lob.

But East Stirling immediately hit back when Dylan Kerr beat two defenders before lifting the ball over advancing keeper Tony Mitchell.

The hosts added a third on 26 minutes when a defensive mistake allowed Allan to run through and shoot low into the net.

But Shire refused to lie down and they pulled one back in the 56th minute when Jordan Leishman headed in a cross from Gerry Boyle.

The visitors grabbed a dramatic equaliser after 62 minutes when Sean McAulay picked up a loose ball 20 yards out and fired home.

And with five minutes left, the excellent Kerr crashed home a stunning free-kick to give East Stirling the points.

Stirling Albion substitute Kenny McLellan grabbed an equaliser five minutes from time to deny 10-man Montrose a shock win in a 1-1 draw.

Second-bottom Montrose went in front a minute after the restart when striker Ian Gilzean sent midfielder Grant Johnson clear, and he coolly flicked the ball past advancing Albion goalkeeper Chris Reid.

Montrose's Keith Gibson missed a golden chance to make it 2-0 after 65 minutes when his attempted chip landed in the arms of the grateful Reid.

And that proved costly when McLellan rescued a point for the promotion-chasers in the 85th minute. He fired a low shot past Gary McGlynn after good work from Paul Hay set him up.