Crossgates and Oakley lose East of Scotland League derbies

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE endured a fifth game without a victory as Dundonald Bluebell earned Fife derby bragging rights on Saturday.

Alan Campbell's side were last victorious on September 5, at Penicuik Athletic, and have suffered four defeats in their last five outings during a schedule that has been hit by weather-related postponements.

The Humbug Park side saw matches scheduled for each of the last two weekends - at home to Glenrothes and Tynecastle respectively - called off but couldn't return to action with a win.

It was a tough day for the visitors. (Image: David Wardle.)

Bluebell, bossed by former Dunfermline and Kelty Hearts star, Stephen Husband, took a 25th minute lead thanks to Regan Lumsden's volley, which Daryl Healy doubled on the hour mark.

As the clock ticked towards full-time, Lewis McKenzie converted a spot-kick, awarded after Healy had been fouled, to seal victory for the hosts.

"I didn't think it was a 3-0 game, but Dundonald took their chances and we didn't," Campbell said.

"I thought Dundonald deserved the win. We played reasonably well in the first half, but lost a goal. We started the second half quite well but gifted them a goal to go two behind, and after that the game was pretty much dead.

"We were a bit shot-shy; we didn't really test their goalkeeper. I've no complaints about the result, and sometimes you just need to hold your hands up."

Campbell, who hopes to welcome back experienced defender, Steven Anderson, and forward, Archie Campbell, for this Saturday's game at Dunbar United, hopes that returning to a regular routine of training and matches will help his side turn their form around.

"It's a case of sticking together, working hard on things in training and getting back to where we were," he added.

"I know that, when we have a full team out, I know what we're capable of."

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1 Hutchison Vale 3, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

IT was the proverbial game of two halves for the Swifts on Saturday as they lost out to Hutchison Vale.

Boss Jason Dair was pleased with his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes, but lamented their second half showing as the points returned to the capital, and ended the hosts' three-match unbeaten run.

The visitors took a 25th minute lead when Scott Maxwell finished well from a low ball played into the six-yard box, but the hosts levelled seven minutes later when Brodie Strang charged down an attempted clearance from the goalkeeper to equalise.

The game was still in the balance until the final 15 minutes, when Maxwell volleyed in his second for Hutchison Vale after an attempted clearance fell kindly for him 12 yards out, before Louis Signorini settled matters by heading home in stoppage time.

"It was a good first half. We were probably the better team, and a goal for Brodie Strang towards the end of the half put is in a decent position, but the second half was poor," Dair said.

"We were under the cosh straight away and tried to make subs to counter, but made no real difference. Eventually we went 2-1 down and then they scored a late one with the last kick of the ball when we were chasing an equaliser. It was disappointing."

Ahead of the game, the Swifts secured two new signings in the shape of goalkeeper, Reece Beveridge, and forward, Luke Mahady.

Beveridge has joined on loan from East Fife until January, whilst Mahady, who started out with the Swifts before joining Celtic, and then Raith Rovers, joins having most recently turned out for Bonnyrigg Rose.

"We've lost a few players through injury and transfers lately, so it's good to have a couple of new faces about to add to the squad," Dair added.

Dylan Geddes has also stepped up to the Swifts' first team squad from their under-20s.

Lochore Welfare 3 Rosyth 3, East of Scotland League, First Division

ROSYTH struck in injury time to salvage a point at Lochore Welfare in an exciting First Division clash at Central Park.

Stevie Crawford's side returned to league action following their unfortunate penalty shoot-out loss to Heriot-Watt University in the semi-finals of the Alex Jack Cup, and picked up a derby day draw after a pulsating match.

Logan Donaldson, who had struck the post for the hosts, opened the scoring with a header from Scott Small's corner, but Rosyth levelled early in the second half through Tam Hampson.

A mix-up in the Welfare defence brought the visitors a penalty, with Jason Penman converting, only for Donaldson to level matters, then Lucas Reilly head Lochore back in front.

However, in stoppage time, Callum Strang headed home an equaliser to secure a point for Crawford's side, after both they and their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the second half, with Lochore's Euan Sutherland, and Rosyth's Jay Tapping, both shown red.

"It took us 20 minutes to calm down and start playing some football in a frantic opening to the game, that got a bit firey with some relaxed refereeing decisions," Crawford said.

"We regrouped at half time and played in a more controlled manner for the opening 20-25 minutes in the second half.

"In the end a draw was probably a fair result as both teams went head-to-head on a tricky surface."

Kirkcaldy and Dysart 3 Oakley United 1, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

OAKLEY UNITED'S run without a victory stretched to nine games after they fell to a Fife derby defeat at Kirkcaldy and Dysart.

Peter Goldie's side have not tasted victory since a 4-1 win at Vale of Leithen in mid-August, and their run since has included six league fixtures, five of which have been lost.

A morning pitch inspection deemed the surface at Alex Penman Park playable, and both teams looked to seize the initiative in the early stages.

In the 20th minute, though, it was the home side who took the lead when Jack Wilson drove forward and finished low into the bottom corner for the only goal of the first half.

The Blairwood Park outfit responded positively and, after narrowly shooting wide, Finn McLaren brought them level 10 minutes after the restart by volleying in from a corner.

They were level, however, for just four minutes as Tyler McKenzie put Kirkcaldy and Dysart ahead for a second time, and they made sure of the points with 15 minutes left thanks to John Smith's effort.

Oakley remain second bottom, one of three teams in the drop zone, and seven points from safety after 10 fixtures played.

Saturday's fixtures: East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Dunbar United v Crossgates Primrose (2.30pm), Glenrothes v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts (2pm). First Division: Oakley United v Whitehill Welfare (2pm), Rosyth v Whitburn (2.30pm).