EAST Stirlingshire twice came from behind in the final 10 minutes to all but end Kelty Hearts’ title bid.

Chris Dodd and Scott Dalziel had fired Barry Ferguson’s team into a commanding lead at Falkirk Stadium before Scott Christie was red-carded in the 78th minute.

Andy Rodgers grabbed a double inside the final ten minutes to level for Shire.

Although Stuart Cargill headed Hearts back into the lead in stoppage time, Ross Allum pounced just 30 seconds later to make it 3-3.

Shire goal hero Rodgers said: “We showed great spirit to keep coming back.

“I’m sure they thought they’d won this game twice today and yet we pegged them back each time.

“We’re a lot better team than our league position suggests and we showed today that we are capable of competing with the best this league has to offer.”

Second placed BSC Glasgow required a late Declan Hughes goal to earn a point against Civil Service Strollers at the Indodrill Stadium after Ian Ballantyne had headed the visitors in front.

East Kilbride took advantage of the slip ups by both challengers to open up the gap at the top to six points with a 3-0 win over Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood.

Craig Malcolm, Craig Reid and Paul Woods all scored for the leaders.

Vale of Leithen bounced back from last week’s 6-0 drubbing by Gala to beat Edusport Academy 5-4 at Victoria Park.

Brad Rixon grabbed a brace for Chris Anderson’s team with the other goals coming from Marc Berry, Liam Ireland and Ryan Currie.

Anderson said: “I was looking for a reaction from my players today and I got it.

“We made hard work of it in the end but I’m delighted to have the three points after what’s been a long week.”

Edusport’s consolations came from a Craig McBride own-goal and strikes from Alex Abadie, Matthew Flynn and Jean Guy Lucas.

Gretna won the Dumfriesshire derby 5-2 against struggling Dalbeattie Star.

Daniel Smales netted twice with the other home strikes coming from Jake Smith, Stuart Gray and Kevin Connelly.

Ian McFarland salvaged a point for Spartans against bottom side Whitehill Welfare at Ferguson Park.

Kevin Keane had earlier edged the home team in front.

Lewis Bonar rescued a point for Stirling University at Forthbank after Kevin Keane had fired Edinburgh University in front midway through the second half.