Haws urged to bounce back against Leith

Hill of Beath manager Kevin Fotheringham admitted it was unlikely that Penicuik would drop five points between now and the end of the season.

That is what would be required for Hill of Beath, alongside Haws winning every game, for Fotheringham’s side to win Conference A following their disappointing defeat at home to Newtongrange Star in midweek.

However, Hill of Beath will not be giving up and Fotheringham has demanded a response from his side as they entertain Leith Athletic at Kiers Park.

The Fife side are without the suspended Jake Mitchell while Rory Harrower and Rikki Dair are injured.

Elsewhere in Conference A, Oakley United travel to take on leaders Penicuik Athletic. United boss Stewart Kenny is without the injured trio of Reece Kay, Dan Kelly and Gary Ironside.

In Conference B, Burntisland Shipyard welcome Dalkeith Thistle and their new manager Kevin Twaddle to Recreation Park.

Boss Grant Brough expects to have the same players available that were narrowly beaten by Heriot Watt last weekend.

Crossgates Primrose jumped in to the all-important fifth place following last weekend’s 4-3 win at Dundonald and Alan Campbell will be wanting his side to cement that position with a win at home to Tranent at Humbug Park.

Campbell expects to have the same squad that travelled to Moorside park last time out.

Dundonald Bluebell are determined to bounce back from last week’s disappointing defeat to Crossgates Primrose but must take on Bonnyrigg Rose without Stuart Walton who is injured and Billy Rogerson who is suspended.

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts face a bottom- of- the- table clash with Edinburgh United in Conference C at Ballast Park.

Swifts play their penultimate home game on the back of a disappointing 3- 1 defeat to Craigroyston and manager Lee Duffy expects to have a full squad available for the game.

Jeanfield Swifts boss Ross Gunnion is definitely looking for his side to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to nine-man St Andrews United, their first league defeat of the season.

This weekend Swifts entertain Heriot-watt University and Gunnion has a doubt over Chris Scott who missed last weekend’s defeat but otherwise should be at full strength.

St Andrews United haven’t given up on one of the top five positions and got a real boost from last week’s win at Jeanfield Swifts.

However, Andy Brown’s side are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures that this week sees them travel to take on Linlithgow Rose at Prestonfield.

Brown is without Charlie King and Ryan Mcinnes who are both suspended following red cards last week, but Nick Rendell is back and Andy Mcdonald has trained so is also in contention for a place.

Fixtures:

Central Taxis East of Scotland

League, Conference A – Coldstream v Easthouses Lily, Hawick RA v Dunbar United, Hill of Beath v Leith Ath, Peebles Rovers v Tweedmouth, Penicuik v Oakley

Conference B – Bo’ness v Sauchie, Burntisland v Dalkeith Thistle, Crossgates v Tranent, Dundonald Bluebell v Bonnyrigg Rose, Dunipace v Haddington Athletic

Conference C – Broxburn v Stirling University, Camelon v Preston Athletic, Craigroyston v Ormiston, Inverkeithing HS v Edinburgh United, Jeanfield Swifts v H Watt, Linlithgow Rose v St Andrews.

King Cup ( 2nd Round) – Lothian Thistle HV v Musselburgh Athletic.