Oakley United: Scott Bruce hits Rosyth East of Scotland League winner

OAKLEY UNITED picked up derby bragging rights to end 2023 on a high with a win over Rosyth their boss hopes will be a "turning point" in their season.

After 13 matches in all competitions without a victory - and their first since mid-August - the Blairwood Park outfit were victors at the Fleet Grounds last Friday evening.

Scott Bruce, five minutes before half-time, struck the decisive goal for Peter Goldie's team, who remain second bottom of the First Division table, but picked up their second win of the season.

Scott Bruce was Oakley's match winner. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"The performance wasn't our best footballing performance that we've had this season, but it is one of the best battling performances we've had," he told Press Sport.

"Football is a strange game. As I've said before, sometimes you play well and lose, sometimes you have to battle and ride your luck to win, and that's what happened.

"We have been playing really well in the last few weeks and haven't got what we probably deserved out the games. On Friday night, we had that wee bit luck that has been missing over the last season-and-a-half.

"Rosyth had a few half-chances in the first half, which our goalkeeper, David Chalmers, dealt with really well.

"We never had many clear-cut chances, and scored against the run of play in the first half. It came through the best piece of play in the game, which was finished off by Scott Bruce just before half-time, which was a great time to score.

"Second half, the boys defended brilliantly, along with David in goals, who relieved us of any pressure from cross balls with his bravery and good handling to keep a clean sheet.

"Overall, I'm delighted with the result, as the boys fully deserve it for the work they put in. Hopefully this is a turning point for us, and we can kick-on in the New Year and get more points on the board."

Rosyth counterpart, Stevie Crawford, commented: "We had a lot of chances in the game but just couldn't capitalise on any of them.

Rosyth couldn't find a way beyond David Chalmers in Oakley's goal. (Image: David Wardle.)

"Oakley took their goal well. Bruce broke in behind our defensive line and struck the ball by our keeper when through one-on-one.

"Not taking anything away from a dogged and energetic Oakley side, but a combination of really good goalkeeping from Oakley's David Chalmers, and us being wasteful with the chances we did create, led to us not scoring on the night.

"Overall we never deserved to lose the game, but we never did enough to win it, and congratulations to Oakley for taking all three points."

The following day, matches involving Crossgates Primrose, at Hill of Beath Hawthorn, and Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, at Broxburn Athletic, were called off due to the weather.

Saturday's fixtures: East of Scotland League, Premier Division - Crossgates Primrose v Dundonald Bluebell (2pm), Hutchison Vale v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts (3pm). First Division - Oakley United v Kirkcaldy and Dysart (2pm), Rosyth v Lochore Welfare (2.30pm).