LOWLAND LEAGUE

WHITEHALL WELFARE started the defence of their SFA South Regional Cup by beating UPPER ANNANDALE 5-1 at Moffat. Welfare were a goal up at the interval thanks to a Dale O’Hara goal in the 35th minute but the second half was all Welfare with Scott McCulloch and Harvey Swan both grabbing a brace and Adam Uphill getting a consolation goal for Uppers.

DALBEATTIE STAR, who played the second half with 10 men after Greig Thorburn was red-carded, crashed 3-2 in extra time to unbeaten South League leaders WIGTOWN. They threw away a two-goal lead after Tommy Muir shot home the opener in eight minutes and then headed a second seven minutes after the turn. But Blair Dougan and Stuart Cluck forced extra time with two goals in the last 15 minutes and sub Robert Jamieson headed in the winner two minutes into the second half of extra time.

BSC Glasgow went out 1-0 to ABBEY VALE. Ex-Annan and Dalbeattie striker Graeme Bell hit the winner.

Jack Hay hit four goals for SPARTANS as they crushed South challengers LOCHAR THISTLE 6-0 at Ainslie Park. Craig Johnston hit the opener in 12 minutes and then Hay got his first on the half-hour. The second 45 was all Spartans with Hay hitting two more to complete his hat-trick before Broque Watson made it five on 70 minutes. Hay collected his fourth on 80 minutes.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE beat MID ANNANDALE 3-0 as the sides met for the first time in 93 years. David Grant got the opener on 15 minutes but it was the 67th before they broke down the home defence again with Grant smashing home from an Adam Murray pass. Paul Sludden hit No 3 late on.

EAST KILBRIDE made it 24 wins in a row under manager Martin Lauchlan but it was only a 14th-minute goal from Adam Strachan that gave them a narrow 1-0 win over fellow-Lowland side GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS.

CUMBERNAULD COLTS beat HAWICK ROYAL ALBERT 3-1 with goals from Owen Ronald in the first half, and then Mark Batchelor and Jonathan Black in the last 20 minutes. James McPharlin got a late one for the Fairies.