Kirrie stage fightback

JUNIORS: Glens boss lost for words as Fife hosts throw away two-goal lead

McBookie.com East Super League Glenrothes boss Barry Cockburn will have been scratching his head after his side threw away a 3-1 lead against Kirrie Thistle, eventually having to settle for a point from a game that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

Glens stalwart John Martin put his side in front from the penalty spot on six minutes and made it 2-0 after 17 minutes.

Darren Scott pulled a goal back, also from the spot, but Martin completed his hat-trick on 26 minutes to restore the cushion and the home side went in at halftime fully in control.

Kirrie came out fired up for the second half and were level within 10 minutes of the restart through Stuart McKenna and Paul Sludden.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men as both Martin and McKenna went from hero to villain and were sent off.

With both Lochee United and Whitburn in cup action, Broughty Athletic went to the top after their 1-0 win over Forfar West End at Whitton Park.

The only goal of the game came from Dundee United loanee Louis Appere.

United are, however, still in the box seat for the title with four games in hand on Whitburn and two on the leaders.

Anybody who left Laing Park early with Carnoustie trailing Fauldhouse United 2-0 missed out on a rip-roaring last five minutes that could have seen Phil McGuire’s side take all three points.

Aiden Malone gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half, scrambling the ball home at the back post.

Ryan Smillie then seized on a piece of good fortune after Harvey Dailly’s clearance ricocheted off a Fauldhouse player and he lobbed the ball over Jamie Robbie and into the net.

Carnoustie refused to give up and Ryan Dignan slid in to poke the ball home and pull a goal back on 87 minutes after John Mullen had failed to hold a soft Pat Martin effort. A minute later Jamie McCabe was first to the ball ahead of Martin to hit a deserved equaliser.

Carnoustie had a great chance to win the game after the referee awarded an indirect free-kick for a passback but the kick went wide.

McBookie.com East Premier

League North

Blairgowrie turned in their best performance for a number of games as they romped to a 6-0 win at Brechin Vics.

Darren Neave scored a hat-trick and Gary Axworthy scored twice alongside a Rudi Brown strike to give Mark Brash’s side their first three points in the league since early December

Kinnoull were another side to shake a six as they were comfortable winners over Coupar Angus at Foxhall Park.

Mark Smith scored twice in the second half after an own goal and strikes from Liam Woolley then Ben English saw the visitors lead 3-0 at the break. Ben Ragen added the sixth on 77 minutes.

With leaders Dundee North End in cup action, Scone Thistle had the chance to go top against East Craigie and Derek Lawson’s men took full advantage winning 3-1.

Ross Mitchell scored the opener on the half-hour before Craig Mitchell scored twice from the spot on 50 and 58 minutes, both conceded by James Malone.

East Craigie pulled a goal back on 68 minutes through Adam Brown but it was nothing more than a consolation.

Forfar Albion threw away a 2-0 lead over Arbroath Vics at Guthrie Park as the visitors went on to win 4-3.

A Kevin Scott penalty after just two minutes followed by a Craig Patterson goal on 10 minutes saw Albion lead at half-time.

The game changed on 60 minutes when Ben Fraser pulled a goal back and then Michael Fotheringham equalised on 69 minutes.

Dean Hardie put Vics in front three minutes later and Cammy Mooney made it 4-2 with three minutes remaining.

Matthew Couttie pulled a goal back for the home side in stoppage-time but time ran out on any thoughts of an equaliser.

DJ Laing East Region Cup second round

Dundee North End made comfortable progress to the DJ Laing East Region Cup third round, beating Lochgelly Albert 5-2 at North End Park.

Kevin Milne and Ryan Rigden both scored twice alongside a Ryan Smith goal for North End, with Lochgelly’s goals coming from Mark Higgins and Ricki Cooper.

The Premier League North leaders travel to Kirkcaldy YM in the next round.