Arbroath Still Clear At Top

Arbroath began the year 11 points clear following a narrow win over struggling Brechin (the 15th win in their opening 20 games) and despite a rare home defeat to Forfar to close the month out actually extended their lead to 12 points. Both wins were against struggling clubs but they are doing what champions elect do – win when they are supposed to.

Programme from the Arbroath v Forfar Game finished 0-2

In the Play-Offs

Nearest pursuers Raith Rovers were unable to close the gap thanks largely to a disappointing defeat at relegation threatened Brechin a game in which they dominated possession and forced 12 corners to Brechin’s one. However after leading one at half-time they were unable to hold on losing 2-1.

East Fife remained in third place throughout the month despite opening January with a home defeat to play-off hopefuls Airdrieonians. Two good away wins has left them looking comfortable in the play-off places, although they did have to come back from 2-0 down against Stranraer eventually winning 4-3.

Forfar Athletic currently holds the third play-off spot thanks to 3 excellent wins in January including winning at league leaders Arbroath again which attracted by far the division’s biggest crowd of the day 1,132.

On The Outside Looking In

The Airdrieonians and Montrose at this stage looked to be the only two teams with a chance of breaking into the play-off places. Airdrieonians looked to be on the up following good performances against both East Fife and Raith Rovers, however they ended the month with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at bottom of the table Stenhousemuir. This leaves them six points adrift but they do have a better goal difference than fourth-place Forfar.

Montrose picked up four points in January but lost to promotion hopefuls East Fife and have a poor goal difference. They have a couple of games against relegation threatened club is coming up and will need six points from them to have any hope of getting back into contention.

Relegation Battle

The division is becoming quite polarised with the above seven teams all in with the chance of promotion while the remaining for are in a relegation battle.
Stenhousemuir began the year bottom and had the misfortune to start the year against the top two teams, which didn’t go well losing both and conceding nine goals in the process. However, a morale boosting 1-1 draw at Premier league Aberdeen seems to have boosted their spirits and the end of January only three points from safety.
The other three teams at the wrong end of the table, Stranraer, Brechin and Dumbarton are all separated by three points and any of them could easily find themselves bottom given there are a few games between them coming up