Oakley missing seven players for tough start

Oakley United start their East of Scotland League Conference A campaign with a tough trip to Newtongrange Star.

United missed out on qualification from their League Cup group and manager Richard Fox knows his side are in for a difficult night at New Victoria Park.

United finished Saturday’s game at Penicuik with effectively eight players due to injury and they will be missing seven players through injury and work commitments for this evening’s game.

Dundonald Bluebell will be looking to kickstart a season that has already seen them exit two cup competitions as they host Crossgates Primrose at Moorside Park in Conference B.

In contrast to Bluebell, Primrose have had a great start, qualifying from their League Cup group ahead of Sauchie and Linlithgow Rose and thrashing Eyemouth United 9-2 at the weekend.

Bluebell go in to the game without Brian Ross and Adam Moffat through injury, while Mark Forbes and Colin Wilson are unavailable.

There should be an interesting encounter in Conference C at Barnetts Park as old foes St Andrews United and Jeanfield Swifts meet.

Both sides qualified from their cup groups but had mixed fortunes at the weekend in the Alex Jack Cup.

Jeanfield won 3-1 at Heriot-Watt University, while St Andrews went down 2-1 at home to Musselburgh. Tonight’s fixtures (kick-offs 7pm unless stated):

Central Taxis East of Scotland League Conference A: Musselburgh Ath v Leith Athletic, Newtongrange Star v Oakley United (7.30pm), Peebles Rovers v Penicuik Ath.

Conference B: Dundonald Bluebell v Crossgates Primrose, Haddington Ath v Dalkeith Thistle.

Conference C: Camelon v Broxburn Ath, St Andrews Utd v Jeanfield Swifts.