Vics back up to fourth but Shotts routed

Blantyre Vics moved back up to fourth in Mcbookie.com West League Championship with a 3-1 win at Arthurlie.

Nadeem Zeb helped himself to a double, either side of a strike by Con Boyle – who scored the rebound from a Zeb shot.

Zeb scored in three minutes and 84, with Boyle’s strike coming on the half-hour.

Vics had the ball in the net two minutes after Boyle’s goal, but

Lewis Macdonald fell foul of an offside flag.

Arthurlie also had a goal disallowed in 60 minutes and were reduced to 10 men two minutes later, but did get off the mark a minute into stoppage time.

That left Vics one point above Neilston, 12 off second-placed Cumbernauld United and 16 behind leaders Darvel, but with six games in hand over both of the top two.

Shotts remain eighth despite a 5-1 defeat at Renfrew, but are now just a point above Gartcairn.

Rikki Mcintosh, Ross Gilmour and Paddy O’keefe had Frew 3-0 up at the interval before Danny Burns pulled a goal back for Shotts, but David Mckenna bagged a second-half double, the second from the spot after keeper John Murdoch was red carded.

Goalkeeper coach Derek

Barnes took over.

Blantyre Vics are one of four sides involved in Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup second round action on Saturday, with a home tie against Muirkirk.

League One sides Lanark United and Royal Albert are at home to St Roch’s and Kilbirnie Ladeside, respectively, while League Two Newmains travel to Girvan. All cup games are a 1.30pm kick-off.