East of Scotland League: Crossgates, Inverkeithing and Oakley lose

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE remain deep in relegation trouble after losing out in an eight-goal thriller to drop rivals Luncarty.

Alan Campbell's team headed north for an 11.15am kick off, as the Perthshire side were one of the host clubs for the annual Scottish 'groundhop' weekend, and they started sprightly by taking a third-minute lead.

Jake Sutherland, who has joined the club on loan from Dunfermline Athletic, alongside Ewan McLeod, put them ahead, only for Kyle Woolley to equalise in the 20th minute.

Cammy Muirhead then put Primrose back in front just before the half hour mark, but a quick-fire Ross McLachlan equaliser, and a Rhys Davies double, the second of which came from the spot, put Luncarty 4-2 up at the break.

Primrose were leapfrogged by their relegation rivals on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

Muirhead then scored his second of the day with 19 minutes to go bring Crossgates back to within one goal, but their hopes of salvaging at least a point were dashed when Ben Scarborough netted Luncarty's fifth with 10 minutes to go.

Haddington Athletic 3 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

SWIFTS saw their winless Premier Division run stretch to seven matches after they were beaten at Haddington Athletic on Saturday.

Jason McCrindle's team, who play Broxburn Athletic this weekend in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup semi-finals, had been hoping to build on promising performances, despite defeats, in their two most recent outings.

Against league leaders Broxburn seven days previously, they led 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining before their opponents turned the fixture around, and then were unfortunate to go down to Dunbar United by a single goal in a midweek East of Scotland League Cup tie.

However, they fell behind in the 37th minute to Tom Davies' close-range finish seven minutes before half-time, and Gabri Auriemma doubled Haddington's advantage with 18 minutes to go.

Luke Mahady netted a stoppage time penalty for Swifts to reduce the deficit, but there was still time for Auriemma to net his second of the day, also from the spot.

"I didn't see it coming," McCrindle said.

"We were confident going into the game. We'd had a good week's training, and good performances against Broxburn, and then at Dunbar on Tuesday, even though we lost those games.

"We were positive pre-match, trying to give the players the responsibility to go and make it happen, and spoke about how we couldn't keep performing the way we have been performing, but not getting results.

Swifts, pictured earlier this season, lost out at Haddington. (Image: David Wardle.)

"It was quite a poor performance, without being overly-critical. We only started having a go in the last 15 minutes.

"I don't know if they realise the situation we're in and what's at stake, and maybe I have to look at myself as well and where we are, but I won't shy away from how I want to play.

"I believe we've got real quality in there."

Blackburn United 5 Oakley United 1, East of Scotland League, First Division

OAKLEY UNITED boss Peter Goldie said he was disappointed and frustrated after watching his side go down to a heavy defeat at Blackburn United.

The Blairwood Park outfit, who were denied three points at home to Camelon last time out after conceding a stoppage time equaliser, but were well beaten on their travels to West Lothian.

The visitors conceded twice inside the opening 10 minutes to trail at the break, conceding a third shortly after the restart, before Ryan Cowie pulled a goal back midway through the second half.

Oakley United, pictured in a match at Blairwood Park, were beaten at Blackburn United. (Image: David Wardle.)

However, after Goldie's side had a penalty saved, two goals in the last five minutes sealed Blackburn's victory, leaving Oakley six points from safety, but with a game on hand on Arniston Rangers, the team directly above them.

"I was disappointed on Saturday," Goldie said.

"In the first half, we didn't turn up and were 2-0 down after 10 minutes, conceding from a corner after four minutes, and a penalty on 10 minutes.

"Second half, we gifted Blackburn a third from our attack. We scored with 25 minutes to go through Ryan Cowie, then have the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot a few minutes later, but the goalkeeper saves it.

"That changed the momentum of the game. We then lost one of the most bizarre own goals I've ever seen, and finish the game with 10 men while also conceding a penalty.

"Saturday was frustrating to watch as we didn't reach the levels we have shown in recent weeks until the second half. We beat ourselves through the lack of effort in spells and poor decision making at crucial times.

"It was a bad at the office and, to win games at this level, 100 per cent effort is the minimum requirement. I'm expecting a reaction from the boys this weekend in another difficult game against St Andrews."

Saturday's fixtures (kick offs 2.30pm): East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, semi-final: Broxburn Athletic v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts. East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Crossgates Primrose v Tynecastle. First Division: Oakley United v St Andrews United.