Arbroath Vics and Luncarty win as weather wreaks havoc again

For the second week running, the weather wreaked havoc with the junior card as just four East Region took place due to the monsoon conditions.

Two were DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup ties in which Luncarty and Arbroath Vics progressed, albeit both coming from behind.

In their third-round tie at Bo’ness United Juniors, Luncarty fell behind to a Darren Gribben goal after 28 minutes.

However, 10 minutes into the second half the Bleachers levelled when new signing Lee Deans’ wellstruck-shot from the edge of the box deflected past the home keeper.

Five minutes later, Sean Fergus banged in a Richard Doig cross for what proved to be the winner.

However, with skipper Stuart Nicol sent off, Robbie Holden’s men had to survive a nervy last 20 minutes before claiming a third successive win.

Meanwhile, in the only match to take place north of the Tay, Arbroath Vics eventually earned a third-round tie away to Kirkcaldy & Dysart after seeing off Lochee Harp 3-1 at Ogilvy Park.

Harp had the best chance of the opening period with only a fine save from home keeper Jamie Watt keeping out a Lewis Fyfe effort.

Three minutes after the restart, the visitors took the lead thanks to Mark Kelly’s rocket-like 25-yarder.

Within three minutes, however, Vics were level as Matty Reynolds turned home an Andi Manolachie cross.

A quarter of an hour from the end, Dean Hardie netted from close range to give Vics the lead.

Victory was sealed by Ben Starkey’s neat chip in stoppage time.

The only other games to go ahead – after being switched to artificial surfaces – were in the South Premier League and they produced a glut of goals, 15 no less.

Newburgh made hard work of defeating pointless West Calder at Livingston’s Tony Macaroni Arena, having been pegged back to 3-3 just before the hour mark.

Scott Sutherland and Harry Galloway both bagged braces with Kyle Fraser the other scorer.

Victory takes them up to second and keeps their outside chances of promotion alive.

In the only other fixture in the division, Syngenta defeated Kirkcaldy & Dysart 4-3 at the Xcite leisure centre in Linlithgow.

On target for the Denfield visitors were Connor Kirton, Ewan Henderson and Steven Jefferies.

Although Kelty Hearts had no fixture in the Lowland League, they would have had their eye on how Bonnyrigg Rose fared away to Caledonian Braves.

Although Rose struggled, they edged victory by the odd goal in five.

It sets up a terrific top-of-thetable clash this Saturday at New Central Park.

It couldn’t be tighter at the summit, with Barry Ferguson’s side three points better off.

But the Lothian side have a game in hand.

Meanwhile, it was a blank day for clubs in Courier country in the East of Scotland leagues.

Just three games started but only two finished.

Blackburn United at home to Sauchie was abandoned after 63 minutes with the visitors 2-0 up.

● Results – DJ Laing East Region Cup 2nd Round – Arbroath Vics 3 Lochee Harp 1.

DJ Laing East Region Cup 3rd Round – Bo’ness Utd 1 Luncarty 2 McBookie.com Premier League South – Syngenta 4 Kirkcaldy 3, West Calder Utd 3 Newburgh 5 Central Taxis 1st Division Conference A 1st Division Conference B – Hawick RAU 2 Haddington Athletic 0, Leith Ath.7 Tweemouth 1.