East of Scotland League: Crossgates draw as trio lose out

PRIMROSE boss Alan Campbell is confident his team can end their season well if they can become more clinical in front of goal.

Despite Jacob Glass giving them a 21st minute lead, the home side (pictured) were pegged back at Humbug Park by Gabri Auriemma, with 20 minutes to go, who preserved a point for a Haddington Athletic side who have lost once in their previous 16 games.

The hosts, for whom Ross Pollock made his 50th appearance, had other opportunities before the equaliser to stretch their advantage, but had to settle for a point.

Crossgates are winless in their last four league games, and are eighth in the table, but have seven games remaining, following last night's derby match at Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

"We finished fifth last season and, if we can get enough points to get back to around that, that keeps our progress going," Campbell said.

"I'm confident we can do that. If we keep playing the way we are, we'll be a hard team to beat.

"I was relatively pleased with our performance. I thought our attitude, and the way we went about it, was pretty good. We managed to get ahead, scored a good goal from a set-piece and, unlike last week, we kept going for a second goal.

"At the start of the second half, we should've put the game to bed. A combination of poor finishing, and a couple of good saves, meant that we didn't do that.

"They got a goal - their player cut inside, and it was a good strike - and, after that, it was a bit of a basketball match.

"I was disappointed to be ahead and not win the game.

"We've got to be more clinical in the final third. At least we never got beat, so there are a few positives, and we're getting a few of the boys back from injury."

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0 Penicuik Athletic 1, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

SWIFTS remained close to the relegation zone after they fell to defeat against Penicuik Athletic on Saturday.

Two weeks after losing to their opponents in the East of Scotland League, League Cup, Craig Morrison's team went down to their second successive league loss.

After a keenly-contested opening period, which saw Penicuik's Russell Cairns strike the bar with a penalty, Cammy Fraser scored the winner for the visitors 10 minutes into the second half when he did well to control a long ball out of defence, move away from an opponent, and sent a driven half volley into the bottom corner of the net.

The hosts' cause was not helped a few minutes later when Ynyr Liddell was red carded, and they couldn't find a route back into the game, leaving them just one point, and two points, above the relegation zone ahead of their derby match at Dundonald Bluebell last night (Wednesday).

Oakley United 2 Dundonald Bluebell 2, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

OAKLEY UNITED picked up just their second point of the season after a spirited fightback to draw with Dundonald Bluebell.

Peter Goldie's team, who have collected one win and two draws, but were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player in a match in December, found themselves behind after 22 minutes when Luke Kennedy headed home Regan Lumsden's cross.

The 'Bell, managed by former Dunfermline and Kelty midfielder, Stephen Husband, increased their lead before the break when Lumsden netted after being played in on goal, but the hosts rallied.

Jack Cowan pulled them back into contention with 25 minutes to go and, with 11 minutes left, Finlay Goodlad found an equaliser to earn a draw.

The O's have five games remaining, but are 26 points adrift of safety, and will be playing in the First Division next season.

Newtongrange Star 2 Rosyth 0, East of Scotland League, First Division

ROSYTH boss Greig Denham said that the referee in his side's loss was "out of his depth" after decisions he felt cost them at Newtongrange Star.

The visitors, who had been on a four-game winning run in all competitions, fell behind just before the hour mark when Steven Tait curled home, but Denham claimed that one of his players had gone down with a head knock.

Jack Denham was then shown a red card for a challenge that the boss felt was "awkward", before, in the final minute, Frazer Sutherland made the game safe for Star despite appearing to be well offside.

"The referee was a young lad, and was out of his depth. It's as poor a performance as I've seen," Denham said.

"I don't normally like to talk about referees, but it's cost us at least a point. There was nothing between the teams, which is testament to have far we've come, against a side going for promotion.

"For the first goal, our player is down with a head knock, and he waves play on. At the red card, their striker takes a heavy touch and Jack is invited in to make the challenge. He took the ball, and caught him on the follow through, and at no point it looked like a red card. When he went to his pocket and pulled out a red, I think everyone in the ground was surprised.

"From our perspective, we're really disappointed for the guys because they put so much into the game. We need to brush it aside, dust ourselves down, and get ready for a tough cup game on Saturday."

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Vale of Leithen (2pm), Crossgates Primrose v Musselburgh Athletic, Oakley United v Penicuik Athletic. East of Scotland League, League Cup, third round: Kirkcaldy and Dysart v Rosyth.