Struggling Swifts set sights on silverware

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts may be battling to retain their Premier Division status but they have a welcome distraction from that struggle when they meet Dunbar United in the final of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tomorrow.

Having defeated league leaders Broxburn Athletic en route to the final, Swifts should have no fears about their ability to capture silverware.

However, they lost the last league meeting at Dunbar 4-0 after taking the honours in the first match at Dalgety Bay.

The final takes place at New Victoria Park in Newtongrange, with a 2pm kick-off.

On league business, Crossgates Primrose’s midweek defeat to Dundonald Bluebell was a bitter blow to their hopes of retaining Premier status, putting today’s trip to bottom club Kinnoull into the must-win category.

Primrose are four points away from safety with five games remaining and they can’t really afford for that gap to widen.

Given they could only draw with their Tulloch Park hosts in the first meeting, Kinnoull’s sudden upturn in fortunes that has seen them pick up seven points from their last three outings makes this a much trickier task.

Glenrothes’s need for three points this afternoon is also urgent.

Third-placed Hutchison Vale are due at Warout and they were 4-1 winners when the teams met in October.

However, Glens produced a confidenceboosting display in midweek with a convincing 4-1 win away to Broxburn, but unfortunately it was a cup success.

The pressure is off the kingdom’s two other topleague outfits.

Hill of Beath host Tynecastle and will be anxious to avenge the 5-1 defeat they suffered on day one of the season at Meggetland.

Dundonald Bluebell will be looking to complete a quick-fire double over Penicuik having edged the previous meeting at Montgomery Park 2-1 last month.

In the First Division, St Andrews United host Newtongrange Star.

The sides were due to meet in the league on Wednesday until floodlight failure caused a postponement.

That clash has still to be rescheduled.

This afternoon’s encounter is a fourthround King Cup tie at Clayton Caravan Park Recreation Ground.

Kirkcaldy & Dysart head to Arniston looking to make it four wins on the bounce.

Lochore Welfare are 10 points clear of the drop zone but they will be keen to collect full points from the visit of Blackburn, who they have also defeated in the King Cup at Ash Grove.

Second Division title hopefuls Thornton Hibs host Dalkeith Thistle.