Missed opportunity for Crossgates after they slip up at home

Crossgates Primrose manager Alan Campbell will have been very disappointed with his side’s East of Scotland League Premier Division defeat at home to Sauchie.

The visitors went in front thanks to a penalty from Danny Smith and doubled the advantage on the half-hour.

Smith made sure of the points with his second and Sauchie’s third despite Crossgates pulling a goal back on 76 minutes through Mark Mckenzie.

The defeat saw Crossgates miss the chance to go above Broxburn Athletic, who were beaten 2-1 at Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

The last time Hill of Beath were in competitive action was December 11 when a late goal beat Broxburn Athletic and it was a late show once again as the Haws came from behind to beat Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2-1 at Dalgety Bay.

Swifts went in front when Callum Murray rounded the keeper before slipping the ball home, but Hill of Beath levelled early in the second half through Daniel Watt.

The winner came with 14 minutes to go from Callum Adamson and the win lifts Hill of Beath above Camelon and out of the bottom two for the first time under Jason Dair.

Newtongrange Star were 2-0 winners over Musselburgh Athletic, and Penicuik Athletic extended their lead over Linlithgow Rose to four points following a 5-1 win at bottom side Whitehill Welfare.

With no chance of the pitch at Riverside being playable, the clash between Jeanfield Swifts and Dundonald Bluebell was postponed on Friday night.

In the First Division Conference A, the Fife derby at Treaton Park between Kennoway Star Hearts and Thornton Hibs fell foul of the weather and was postponed, but the games at Kirkcaldy and Rosyth both went ahead.

Kirkcaldy & Dysart put an end to St Andrews United’s recent run of four wins with an impressive 3-1 win at Alex Penman Park.

Jay Bridgeford put the home side in front and Ryan Mcewan doubled the advantage from the penalty spot on half-time.

The second half was only 10 minutes old when John Smith made it 3-0 and although Jake Grady pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining, the work had been done and the points secured.

Rosyth came back from being 2-0 down after 27 minutes to lead Dalkeith Thistle 3-2 at the break thanks to goals from Mikey Ness, Regan Lumsden and Garry Leighton.

Leighton added his second on 68 minutes, putting Rosyth 4-2 in front. The win sees Rosyth climb above both Kennoway and Edinburgh United into the top five.

The only game to survive involving local clubs in Conference B was the derby between Newburgh and Luncarty at East Shore Park.

Despite ending in a goalless draw the sides dished up an entertaining encounter with the visitors having the better chances only to find Newburgh keeper Callum Sutherland in superb form.

Luncarty boss Robbie Holden was full of praise for Sutherland, saying: “We dominated possession but couldn’t score and the Newburgh keeper was in great form making three or four excellent saves, but to be honest, we didn’t do enough in the final third.”

The only other game to survive in Conference B was at The Pennypit where Preston Athletic closed the gap to Oakley United in second to two points after an 8-0 win over Hawick Royal Albert.

In the Midlands League, Tayport beat Dundee Violet 4-1.

The Fife side led 1-0 at the break after Daniel Dorovic opened the scoring but it wasn’t until the hour-mark that Ryan Paterson doubled the advantage against the run of play.

Violet pulled a goal back through Cammy Ross but a double from Jamie Gill sealed it for Port.