East of Scotland League: Crossgates edge Swifts derby

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE earned Fife derby bragging rights on Tuesday evening as they bounced back from an opening day defeat with victory.

In an entertaining match at Humbug Park, Jason Dair's Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts were edged out by the odd-goal in five, with Cammy Muirhead's effort proving decisive.

Both teams went into the contest on the back of losses on Saturday in their first Premier Division fixtures of the season.

Primrose went down 3-1 at Haddington Athletic, with Archie Campbell netting their goal from the penalty spot, whilst Swifts lost out by the same scoreline at Jeanfield, despite Che Reilly levelling for them in the 34th minute.

David Cross gave Crossgates the lead on Tuesday after half-an-hour, only for Aaron Wood to level eight minutes later from the penalty spot.

Cross, though, headed the hosts ahead before the break, before Muirhead extended their advantage just after the break.

Aaron McMurchie reduced the arrears for the Swifts seven minutes later, but Crossgates saw out the victory.

Home boss, Alan Campbell, said: "I thought we were really at it on Tuesday night. We started really well and, in the first half an hour, we had good chances - we hit the bar, and their goalkeeper made two unbelievable saves.

"We started the second half great, and I thought we could go on and win four or five one. Credit to them, they gambled, went two up front, and got back into it with a deflected goal.

"After that, we got a bit scrappy, but for the last 30 minutes, we limited them to very little.

"I rate Swifts highly. I think they're a good side, and they manage to bring through three or four players that are better than from the year before.

"I think anybody that beats them is a good side."

Swifts counterpart Dair commented: "It was a decent game for the neutral I suppose; a few chances either end, without a lot of good football being played.

"They were very direct and scored all three goals from set pieces. We scored a penalty from Aaron Wood, and a deflected Ronan McMurchie shot, but we couldn't force the equaliser."

Addressing his side's loss at Haddington, Campbell added: "I thought we were a bit unlucky. I don't think the scoreline reflected the game.

"We probably weren't quite good enough in box boxes; a couple of bad errors led to their first two goals, and, when we had chances, we didn't quite take them.

"I thought we had relative control of the game. The players gave everything and, on another day, we maybe could've got something."

On his team's loss at Jeanfield, Dair said: "It was a good game and a decent performance.

"There wasn't much between the teams, but they were a bit more clinical.We scored a good goal from Che Reilly but couldn't add to it.

"It's always a hard place to go, but confidence has to be taken going forward from the performance.

""Although there are positives to be taken, ultimately it is two defeats, and we now need to start picking up points quickly."

Rosyth 2-0 Whitehill Welfare, Camelon Juniors 2-1 Rosyth, East of Scotland League, First Division

GREIG DENHAM believes that his Rosyth side are being viewed as a threat after their opening two First Division matches.

With a promotion challenge his pre-season target, Denham watched his men open the campaign with a 2-0 win over Whitehill Welfare, thanks to goals from Michael Ness and Kieran McMahon, before Tuesday's night's 2-1 loss at Camelon.

A goal inside 40 seconds gave the hosts the lead, who then doubled their advantage with 25 minutes to go, before Darren Ormiston pulled a goal back.

"On Saturday, it was two evenly-matched teams, and it was a solid performance, especially second half, where we dominated," Denham said.

"I was delighted to come away with a clean sheet and three points.

"On Tuesday, I was disappointed to not take even a point. We've not been clinical enough in terms of our finishing, we've hit the post. Albeit, they were down to 10 men (Sam Collumbine was sent off before the break), and then nine right at the death, but we penned them in.

"It was two individual errors for their goals. The first was after 40 seconds, which puts you on the back foot right away, and gave them a lift for the first 20-25 minutes, when I thought Camelon were the better team.

"A handling error from the goalkeeper then gifted them a goal to make it 2-0 in the second half, completely against the run of play. I was disappointed not to take at least a point, so take nothing was hard to take.

"If we'd scored two or three in the second half, I don't think anyone would've denied us that. You could see from how much Camelon were celebrating at full-time how serious we are seen now."

Whitburn 4 Oakley United 1, Oakley United 1 Heriot-Watt University 3, East of Scotland League, First Division

PETER GOLDIE insists there are more positives than negatives for his Oakley United side to take despite opening their campaign with two losses.

A late Kenny Knox goal was mere consolation on Saturday, as Whitburn inflicted a 4-1 defeat, before Heriot-Watt University took three points away from Blairwood Park on Tuesday evening.

Brian Mcadam gave Oakley the lead just after half-time against Heriot-Watt, but two goals inside a minute shortly afterwards turned the match on its head, before the students struck a third with 13 minutes to go.

Goldie, who was hopeful of completing a deal for "an experienced striker" before this weekend, said: "There are a lot more positives.

"The scorelines looks like we've been battered in both games but, if you take the score out, we couldn't have played much better.

"Against Heriot-Watt, for the first hour, we played really well. We lost two goals in a minute, and should've had a penalty, didn't get it, then they get one, which takes the momentum out of it.

"Whitburn and Heriot-Watt both played in the right way, and probably deserved their wins, but we can compete with the majority of teams in this league. The only thing that's missing from the puzzle is someone to put the ball in the net.

"We're not panicking. If we can cut out the silly mistakes, we'll not be far away. It's frustrating, as we want to win every game, but we'll look at it and prepare for the next game."

Saturday's fixtures (kick off 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland League, Premier Division - Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Musselburgh Athletic (2pm), Crossgates Primrose v Jeanfield Swifts. First Division - Arniston Rangers v Rosyth, Oakley United v Blackburn United.