East of Scotland League: Crossgates and Oakley both lose

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE manager Alan Campbell believes the next week could go a long way in determining whether they can avoid relegation.

Following their one-goal loss to second-top Musselburgh Athletic on Saturday, they remain second bottom, four points from safety, but with a game in hand.

Nicky Reid's effort just before the hour mark handed the visitors, who have the division's best defensive record, victory at Humbug Park to leave Crossgates in the drop zone.

Following their match with Dundonald Bluebell last night (Wednesday), they go to bottom side Kinnoull on Saturday, before going to fourth bottom Glenrothes - the team immediately outside the relegation places - on Tuesday.

Primrose boss Campbell said: "There's a lot of football to be played, so we won't get too down about it.

"Saturday was probably like a lot of games at this time of the season. It was pretty tight and, in the first half, there wasn't much in it.

"Musselburgh probably had the better of the possession but they didn't really trouble us because our organisation was so good.

"We probably had the best chance of the first half but we didn't take it. In the second, we started a bit brighter as we decided to have more of a go.

"We had a flurry around their box, forced a few corners and had a few half chances, but we lost a goal after about an hour.

"That set us back. We huffed and puffed, but we didn't manage to create any real clear-cut chances.

"If that game is played nine or 10 times, it finishes 1-0 to us, 1-0 to them or 0-0. If you go a goal down against them, a look at the league table shows they don't give much away.

"The guys put a lot of effort in."

On Tuesday evening, Primrose hosted Dundonald Bluebell in the Premier Division, but fell to a late defeat.

The hosts went ahead early in the second half thanks to Craig Henderson, before Finn Graham was sent off the visitors midway through the second half.

However, with two minutes left, Kyle McCulloch headed in an equaliser for Dundonald, before Kieran Hall volleyed in a dramatic winner in stoppage time.

Primrose remain second bottom and four points from safety.

Oakley United 1 Dunipace 2, East of Scotland League, First Division

OAKLEY UNITED'S bid to climb out of the First Division relegation zone suffered a double blow with two defeats in the space of three days.

Last Saturday, Peter Goldie's team welcomed Dunipace to Blairwood Park and, despite pulling level, Sam Colley's double gave the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead.

They maintained that to win three points, and promotion, to leave the hosts second bottom going into their match with Arniston Rangers on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Ewan Graham and Arran Laidlaw put Arniston two goals up at the break, with the latter adding two more to complete his hat-trick and a 4-0 win.

Oakley are 10 points adrift of third bottom Lochore Welfare, having played four games more.

Today's (Saturday) fixtures (2.30pm): East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Kinnoull v Crossgates Primrose. First Division: Preston Athletic v Oakley United. Sunday's fixture: East of Scotland Qualifying Cup final (at Newtongrange): Dunbar United v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts (2pm). Tuesday's fixture: East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Glenrothes v Crossgates Primrose (7.15pm).