Hilltown are within reach of title

IT was not all doom and gloom for Hilltown at the weekend.

They saw nearest challengers Doc’s Hibernia beaten 3-1 by Fintry Athletic in Premier League action.

That leaves Hilltown needing one win from their remaining three league matches to secure back-to-back Premier Champion status.

Park Tool stand in their way this weekend as the two are set to clash in league action.

At the other end of the table, Dryburgh l ook doomed to relegation after succumbing to a 4-0 defeat to FC Kettledrum.

That leaves them eight points adrift with three games to play and two teams going down.

DC Athletic came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 against Fintry Athletic and are now level with DUSC in the relegation battle.

Three other teams, Park Tool, Riverside CSC and Hawkhill are only three points clear of them in the battle to secure Premier status. It looks like one from those five will go down.

DUSC’s 5-1 win over FC Kettledrum was emphatic.

DUMS’ 7-0 hammering of Riverside CSC at the weekend should be enough to keep the Medics up and pull them away from the threat of relegation and drop Riverside into trouble.

Doc’s Hibernia thrashed the Medics 5-1 in midweek so it was a much-needed win for the student team on Saturday.

In the Balgay Bar First Division, Ferry Mechanics joined Cairdy Thistle and St James in being promoted to the Premier.

They took full advantage of a Cannon Fodder sending off to win the game in the second half having been tied 1-1 at the break.

Connor McKenna and Stevie Houston were on target for Fodder in the 5-2 defeat.

St James need two wins from their last three matches to be assured the title following a l astminute winner to see off the improved Monifieth Hurricanes, who battled hard. St James won 4-3.

The Beat have to see off St James this weekend to avoid relegation, having lost 7-1 at the weekend to Stobswell.

In the Trident Trophies Second Division, Bank St Athletic won promotion with a walkover against Cleppy Social, who are struggling with bans kicking in.

Cleppy had been i n contention for promotion until recent weeks when ill discipline and sendings off cost them any chance of being in the mix for First Division football.

Occidental have been on fire in recent weeks, coming from mid-table into contention for promotion.

Their 3-2 win against FC Boukir effectively killed off Boukir’s title challenge, though they remain fourth in the final promotion slot.

They have tricky ties this week, facing Bank St Athletic tomorrow night knowing defeat will hand the title to the Bankies.

They then face Charlie’s Accies, who are in second spot, on Saturday. Occidental can put them out of the promotion spots if they see off Kelso and Boukir do not emerge with points in these two games.

Dundee City’s 4-0 win over Sidlaw Albion saw them go past Boukir into third spot.

With Clark’s to play this weekend, they could stretch that gap further and secure themselves a shot in the First Division next season.

Charlie’s Accies saw off Clark’s 9-2 to keep on the Bankies tails.

Park Tool are in control here and against Hilltown Hotspurs — and it stayed that way.

Park Tool celebrate their Ross Kirk Memorial Cup success.

Neil Steward is congratulated after scoring Park Tool’s opening goal from the penalty spot against Hilltown Hotspurs.