Burnie ease to three points

Whitburn grabbed their first league win since August in stunning fashion with a convincing victory against Kirriemuir Thistle.

The three points took the Burnie above their opponents and within just two points of climbing out of the bottom four.

The hosts netted nine times in the Scottish Cup in their last fixture and continued their goal spree with a clinical display at Central Park.

Despite trying conditions, the two teams produced an entertaining game that was even until the Burnie broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Martin Russell was on hand to nod a Dewi Taylor cross into the net.

He would have a crucial role to play in his side’s second, which came just before the half-time whistle.

His terrific ball played in Taylor, who was bundled over inside the box. Coming off a hat-trick in the Scottish Cup clash against Buchanhaven, captain Gary Brass calmly slotted home the spot kick to give the hosts a commanding position at the break.

He would grab his second shortly after the interval with a fierce drive from 12 yards out after a neat pass from Jordan Thomson before the scoring was ended on 83 minutes as Andy Thomson latched on to a ball over the top of the defence and duly side-stepped Sean Diamond in the Thistle goal before rolling the ball into the empty net to complete the win.

The victory brought to an end a run of nine Premier League games without a win.

They’ll be desperate to carry that form into the Scottish Cup this weekend as they host West Region side Benburb in a fourth round tie.