Crossgates Primrose win but Oakley Utd draw in East of Scotland League

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE maintained their perfect home league record but left it late to complete a convincing win over Kinnoull.

Alan Campbell's side made it five wins from five First Division matches at Humbug Park, a result which leaves them third and in the promotion places.

Craig Henderson gave Primrose the lead midway through the first half, but a second goal didn't arrive until the 89th minute, through Lyall Brown.

Scott Lawrie then added a third goal to complete the victory over the Perth team, who last month appointed former Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts boss, Jason McCrindle, as assistant alongside new manager, Alan Cameron.

Former Swifts boss, Jason McCrindle, is back in the game with Kinnoull. (Image: David Wardle.)

"We continued on our good form, particularly at home," Campbell said.

"Over the 90 minutes, we were the better team, created more chances, and scored our goals at the right times.

"It probably was the right score. The fact that the second and third goals came so late, Kinnoull will probably feel hard done by, and they had a couple of late set plays.

"We finished off well and were definitely worthy winners.

"The second goal was crucial. It took us a bit too long to get it, and there's a bit of anxiety about the place at 1-0, but we got there in the end.

"There are tougher tests to come, but I really expect the form and points total we've got. We're way ahead of our expectations, but it's about keeping our feet on the ground."

Crossgates take a break from league action on Saturday as they host Second Division, Dalkeith Thistle, in the third round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

After being knocked out of both the Alex Jack Cup and the South Challenge Cup at the first hurdle this season, Campbell is hoping to continue deeper into the competition, adding: "We will probably start as favourites, and I expect Dalkeith will be similar to a lot of teams we've played at home so far."

Crossgates are set to welcome back Reece Bernard and Darren Smith, who both missed out at the weekend, to their squad for the tie.

Lochore Welfare 0 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0, East of Scotland League, First Division

INVERKEITHING HILLFIELD SWIFTS edged further clear of the First Division relegation places after a hard-fought draw at Lochore Welfare.

Gary Sibbald's team made the short trip to Crosshill for a Fife derby with their fellow strugglers, and came home with a point after a stalemate.

The hosts had failed to win any of their opening eight games, losing six of them, whilst scoring just eight goals, and conceding 20.

Welfare propped up the table, whilst Swifts sat outside the bottom three sides, having won two and drawn three of their 10 games prior to this one, scoring 11 goals but conceding 21.

They had, however, gone five league matches without a win, drawing two of them, since a 1-0 win at Leith Athletic in August, in Sibbald's first match in charge since replacing Jason McCrindle as manager.

Whilst that run stretched to six, a clean sheet was welcome for the Swifts after a 4-0 home loss to Bo'ness Athletic last time out, and with Whitehill Welfare and Kinnoull, second and third bottom respectively, both losing, the point gained saw them move three points clear of the drop zone and into 11th place.

Speaking shortly after he had taken over, Sibbald said: "It's going to take time because it's a lot of new ideas on the training pitch, a lot of new ideas on a match day, so it's going to take time to sink in.

"There'll be times where we get it right, and it goes really well, and other times where it just doesn't work for us.

"As long as we're making steady progress, in an upward spiral, we can all live with that."

Peebles Rovers 2 Oakley United 2, East of Scotland League, Second Division

OAKLEY UNITED conceded twice in injury time as Peebles Rovers snatched a draw that "felt like a defeat" for the visitors.

Peter Goldie's men were on course for a third successive league victory when two Ryan Cowie goals either side of the break - in the 43rd and 65th minutes - put them in command.

From a long pass forward, Scott Inglis ran in behind the visiting defence before finishing to pull a goal back for the hosts before, incredibly, he added a second to rescue a point with a close-range finish.

Oakley have now drawn five of their 10 league matches, and sit 11th with 14 points, four outside the top three, and Blairwood Park gaffer Goldie said: "Saturday was a sore one for us, after going 2-0 up, however, losing two goals in the space of a minute in stoppage time to draw the game felt like a defeat.

"We scored a late winner last week and conceded a late equaliser this week. That's football at times. Sometimes you just need to take your medicine and move on. Saturday was one of those days.

"I told the boys on Saturday after the game that I've played football long enough, and been involved long enough to know every week is a rollercoaster of emotions, but there is always an opportunity to learn and be better for it.

"The positive for us was three of our under-20s getting more game time at this level, and showing how bright the future is for us."

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): Alex Jack Cup, semi-final: Oakley United v Whitburn. East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, third round: Crossgates Primrose v Dalkeith Thistle. King Cup, first round: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Hawick Royal Albert.