So tough to replace our scoring trio
STEPHEN SWIFT has admitted BSC Glasgow are having a tough time trying to replace their established strike force.
During the pandemic and close season the BSC boss saw his goalscoring frontline of Thomas Collins, Thomas Orr and Martin Grehan depart.
And Swift said: “We’ve tried to strengthen as best we can but we lost the three players who were the focal point of our frontline over the last few years.
“But we’ve tried to recruit well and we’ve made a marquee signing in Andy Geggan from Ayr, as well as Declan Fitzpatrick and Ross Lyon from Clyde and several others.
“We’ve got to move on and hopefully the players we’ve brought in can step up to the mark. But it will be tough.”
BSC also found it tough to get past Dalbeattie but they did manage to see off Star 2-1.
Liam Park put Dalbeattie ahead in 18 minutes but BSC hit back with a Jamie Atkinson equaliser three minutes after the interval and he struck the winner midway through the second half.
Swift added: “Credit has to go to Dalbeattie who gave us a fright. They’ve improved dramatically since the last time we played them.
“To be honest it wasn’t a great day for us but the opposition made it difficult. A draw would have been a fair result but we sneaked the win.”
Kelty started the defence of their title with a comfortable 4-0 win over Edinburgh Uni.
Kallum Higginbotham put Hearts ahead from the penalty spot in 34 minutes and Matty Flynn added a second two minutes later.
Ross Philp finished off a fine move 10 minutes after the restart and the goal of game came after 73 minutes with an overhead kick by Higginbotham.
Spartans had to fight hard for a 2-1 win at Gretna despite going ahead with a 28th-minute Blair Atkinson 20-yarder.
Jordan Irving levelled four minutes into the second half but Archie Meekison set up Cameron Dawson for the winner with seven minutes left.
Last season’s runners-up Bonnyrigg won 4-0 at Gala Fairydean Rovers with Lee Currie getting one on each side of the interval and Scott Gray and George Hunter also netting.
East Kilbride found the going tough against Stirling Uni but managed a comeback for a 2-1 win.
The Scholars took the lead with a Jamie Penker goal after 57 minutes but eight minutes later Craig Malcolm levelled before Daryl Healy hit the winner with an overhead kick.
Robbie Young netted the only goal of the game in the last minute as East Stirling edged past Civil Service Strollers.
Newcomers Bo’ness picked up the three points with a 2-1 win over Cumbernauld Colts.
Kieran Anderson hit the opener for United in 70 minutes and Tom Grant got a second 10 minutes later. But Cameron Foy set up a thrilling finish by scoring with seven minutes left.
Berwick also started on a winning note with Jordan Sinclair getting the only goal of the game against Vale of Leithen.