Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts lose but Rosyth earn Alex Jack Cup win

SWIFTS saw their three match winning run come to a halt as Kinnoull left with all three points on Saturday.

Jason Dair's men had impressively defeated Sauchie Juniors and Dunbar United in the Premier Division, which both came after an East of Scotland Qualifying Cup win at Whitburn, but couldn't get the better of their opponents from Perth.

Mark Mooney gave the visitors the initiative four minutes before half-time, but Sean Cumming levelled for a Swifts side that had been reduced to 10 men on the hour mark.

However, within a minute, Jamie MacKenzie restored Kinnoull's lead, a strike that proved decisive as Swifts suffered their fourth defeat from their opening six matches, ahead of their home match with Haddington Athletic last night (Wednesday).

Livingston United 0 Rosyth 5, Alex Jack Cup, second round

NEW boss Stevie Crawford watched on from the sidelines as Rosyth surged into the third round of the Alex Jack Cup with victory at Livingston United.

The visitors were again led by first team coach, Graeme Nutt, and club captain, Garry Leighton, having stepped into interim charge for their match seven days previously following the resignation of Greig Denham.

The duo oversaw a 6-0 win over Vale of Leithen before following it up with a comfortable success against the Third Division side.

Matthew Gallacher's volley, and Callum Strang's hat-trick, put them four goals up at the break, with Kieran McMahon added a fifth.

Crawford remained on a watching brief, ahead of taking training for the first time tonight (Thursday), for Tuesday's home league game with Newtongrange Star, which ended in a 4-2 loss.

Shaun Conlon and Liam Reid put the visitors two up inside 26 minutes at the Fleet Grounds, but Matifadza Zara's strike brought Rosyth back into it before half-time.

Dean Ballantyne added a third for Star just before the hour before Gallacher scored a second for the hosts, who were chasing a leveller when Declan Henry wrapped up the game deep in stoppage time.

"Russell (Craig, chairman) and Dean (Ogg, vice-chairman) and Greig (Denham), who was in before me, the three of them have said that they're a decent group of boys," Crawford said.

"Even against Newtongrange, they lost a goal late on when they were trying to get an equaliser, so 4-2 maybe looks a little bit harsh on them, but I didn't see anybody throwing in the towel. That's all you can ask. You can accept defeat if people are giving their best shot.

"In the two games that I've seen, everybody's been giving it their best efforts. I think there's four or five of them still possibly out with injury that will help the squad when they get back, and then competition for places, and people with the right mindset that nobody's bigger than the club."

Bo'ness Athletic 4 Crossgates Primrose 0, Alex Jack Cup, second round

PRIMROSE boss Alan Campbell described his team's Alex Jack Cup exit as "a bit of a strange game" as Bo'ness Athletic inflicted a comprehensive defeat.

The injury-hit 2022 winners saw their hopes of going deep into the tournament ended by a clinical home side from two divisions below them, with Campbell bemoaning a 10 minute spell where he felt they lost their way.

Following a scoreless first half, during which Crossgates had a goal disallowed for offside, Calum Simpson put Bo'ness ahead eight minutes after the restart, which Chris Ogilvie added to on the hour mark.

Ally McInnes added a third three minutes later, before Ryan Robertson added a fourth with 16 minutes to go to complete the scoring.

"It was a bit of a strange game," Campbell reflected.

"I thought in the first half it was a competitive cup tie and there wasn't much in it. We had two or three chances and scored a perfectly good goal that was disallowed for offside, but it was bewildering why it wasn't allowed.

"We lost a goal at the start of the second half and then, for 10 minutes, we lost our way. They were quite clinical with their finishing and ran out worthy winners.

"We've got a lot of problems with injuries. On Saturday, we had a left back and two strikers playing in a midfield three. It's awkward and uncomfortable for the players.

"We've got four central midfielders out at the same time. That's maybe a reason for it, but it's not a reason that, after losing a goal, we lost another couple."

Campbell was looking for a positive response to the defeat when they travelled to Penicuik Athletic in an East of Scotland League, Premier Division match on Tuesday evening - and his team delivered.

Primrose collected a fine 3-1 victory and we were well on their way to three points when Archie Campbell's first half brace, which saw him net twice inside six minutes, put them two goals up.

Although Ben Wardlaw's late penalty threatened to set up a nervy finish, Cammy Dow's goal in stoppage time clinched a third win from six league outings for Crossgates.

Harthill Royal 3 Oakley United 0, Alex Jack Cup, second round

OAKLEY UNITED were knocked out of the Alex Jack Cup after conceding three second half goals to their lower league opponents.

Peter Goldie's men were looking for just their second victory in all competitions when they travelled to Third Division Harthill Royal, but found themselves on the end of a sixth defeat in seven competitive games this season.

Callum Robertson, Euan Arthur and Owen Lake grabbed the goals for the hosts, with First Division Oakley aiming to bounce back when they visited St Andrews United last night (Wednesday) on league business.

Saturday's fixtures (kick-off 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland League, Premier Division - Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Broxburn Athletic (2pm), Crossgates Primrose v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. First Division - Oakley United v Rosyth.