Primrose prove they aren’t a flash in the pan

Given they were up against the likes of Linlithgow Rose, Penicuik and Sauchie, Crossgates Primrose were expected to just make up the numbers in Group C.

However, they have qualified for the preliminary round after finishing unbeaten in second place.

Indeed, after their 2-1 win at Sauchie, they remain unbeaten and only missed out on topping the section due to Penicuik’s one-goal advantage.

An own goal gave Alan Campbell’s men the lead after 15 minutes and despite Craig Donaldson equalising, Darren Aitken netted a late winner.

Hill of Beath also finished second in their group behind Bonnyrigg Rose to advance to the preliminary stage after demolishing Stirling University 9-1 at Keirs Park.

Charlie Denton scored Haws’ opener, but the visitors soon levelled.

However, the Fifers then went on a scoring spree with Joe Kirby and Danny Watt both hitting hat-tricks, with Calum Adamson and Ricky Patrick also on target.

Jeanfield Swifts maintained their 100% record with a 3-0 home win over Leith Athletic which enabled them to finish top of the group and go straight into the first round.

Though there was no question they deserved to win it took a long time for them to make their superiority count as deserved winners, after Chris Scott fired them into a 14th-minute lead.

Indeed, their two other goals, a Richard Donovan, were only scored in the last 10 minutes.

In the other game in that group, Oakley United lost 3-0 at home to Bo’ness United.

Requiring only a point to qualify from their three-team group, St Andrews sauntered to a 6-1 win against Peebles Rovers at Leith Athletic’s Peffermill ground.

Saints’ scorers were Jack Wilson with a hattrick, a Gary Graham double and one from Ryan McInnes.

In what was a dead rubber, Dundonald Bluebell had the consolation of winding up their sectional matches with a 5-0 win over Craigroyston to avoid the wooden spoon.

Archie Campbell scored a hat-trick with Callum Smith getting the other two.