Crossgates, Inverkeithing and Oakley in East of Scotland league action

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE moved to within three points of the First Division summit with a well-deserved win over Arniston Rangers.

Alan Campbell's side were three goals to the good, and cruising to victory, before their opponents pulled two goals back inside the final 11 minutes, but the hosts saw the game out.

Scott Hynd's ninth minute penalty, following a good counter-attack, gave Crossgates the initiative and they went on to dominate, especially after half-time.

A second goal of the afternoon for Hynd, in 66 minutes, and a third, netted by Blair Paterson, was reward for Primrose's play, but they conceded with 11 minutes to go when Ryan Burrows scored.

Jack Burrows then scored a second for Arniston, with five minutes to go, but Crossgates held out for a fifth win from seven league games, to sit in fourth place.

"I thought, for 75 minutes, that was as good as we've played for a long time, certainly this season," Campbell said.

"We started quite well and, after a good counter attack, won a penalty and Scott stuck it away.

Crossgates survived a late scare on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle)

"In the second half, we completely dominated from the kick off right through. We scored two and we could've scored another couple - had it been four or five, it wouldn't have been undeserved.

"A slight mistake, an individual error, allowed them in and back into a game they were never in, and, to be fair to them, they scored a good second goal.

"But we dug in, retained possession high up the pitch, and saw it out. The scoreline didn't reflect how dominant we were, in the second half especially.

"I think 3-0 or 4-0 would've been a fair reflection, but that's football for you. If you switch off for a second, you can be punished.

"It's maybe a wee wake-up call for them, but I'm happy with the performance and the result."

Edinburgh South 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0, East of Scotland League, First Division

SWIFTS boss Gary Sibbald called their defeat to Edinburgh South "a really tough pill to swallow" after a controversial refereeing decision proved to be their downfall.

The away side, who twice struck the woodwork, were penalised for a handball during the second half inside the box, and Fletcher Hendry converted the penalty to hand the hosts all three points.

Sibbald, who was shown a late red card for protesting that his side should have had a spot-kick for handball, only for a free-kick to be given against them for what the referee deemed to be a push in the build-up, said: "It was one of those ones where it was a really tough pill to swallow because we've dominated the ball from the start of the game to the finish of the game.

"They've had, really, one shot on goal, that we saved. They've then got a penalty which I think is really, really harsh, on our full back. The ball's blasted against his hands from no distance at all, and the referee's given a penalty for it.

"Then, with 20 minutes to go, we're chasing a game where you were just waiting on us scoring. We've ended up chasing a game where we've been totally dominant.

"We've hit the bar twice, we've had two really good chances through on goal, and it's one of those ones where I think if you were to play the game again, you would win it three or four nil.

"We're not quite getting the rub of the green at the minute, but there's loads of good things in our play that I can see coming through, but the last couple of results have been poor.

"It's fine margins. If we score one of the chances before they get the penalty, it probably doesn't turn into a penalty, and we probably score three or four.

"Edinburgh South have sat in against us, scored the goal that they were looking for on the counter - albeit, helped from the referee - and they've defended really well after that.

"That was their gameplan and it's worked for them. We just need to take it on the chin, go into Saturday and go at it again."

Oakley United 2 Dalkeith Thistle 2, East of Scotland League, Second Division

OAKLEY UNITED boss Peter Goldie was frustrated that his team couldn't hold out for victory after 10-man Dalkeith Thistle grabbed a late point.

The Blairwood Park outfit were looking to bounce back from their first league loss of the campaign last time out at Stirling University, and appeared to be on course for three points.

Dylan Greig's low finish gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, which they held until the break, before they were reduced to 10 men early in the second period.

Tom Mooney, making his first team debut as a substitute, levelled for Oakley, before Ryan Cowie fired them ahead moments later.

However, deep into stoppage time, Chris Jack levelled for Dalkeith, and Goldie said: "We lost two silly goals on Saturday from defensive mistakes, which came down to lapses in concentration and poor decision making for both.

Peter Goldie watched his Oakley United side concede a stoppage-time equaliser. (Image: David Wardle)

"The performance on Saturday was generally good as we created a number of chances, but missed the cutting edge in the first half. Dalkeith got a man sent off early in the second half and we changed our shape to capitalise on it, which we did.

"Young Tom Mooney, from our under-20s, got us level with a shot from outside the box on his first team debut, and, a few minutes later, we took the lead as Ryan Cowie got on the end of a Ryan Yapoudjian cross.

"It was frustrating to lose a goal so late in the game as we dominated the majority of the play and should have see the game out."

Saturday's fixtures (kick offs 2.30pm): Alex Jack Cup, third round: Kennoway Star Hearts v Oakley United. East of Scotland League, First Division: Arniston Rangers v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, Leith Athletic v Crossgates Primrose.