Johnston the hero as Lochee United lift cup

Lochee United won the Thorntons Property Cup on Saturday, thanks to a 3-0 victory over Kirriemuir Thistle.

The first half was keenly contested, with Lochee on top but despite their dominance and creating the better chances, they couldn’t find a way past Thistle keeper Daryl Burns.

However, that all changed very quickly after the break with Lochee taking the lead on 47 minutes.

A fine manoeuvre saw the ball find its way out to George Johnston, who cut in before curling a great shot beyond Burns and into the far corner.

Lochee continued to dominate and doubled their advantage on the hour when Kevin Milne got up well to head home a Danny Cavanagh cross.

Johnston made sure it was Lochee’s day when he seized on a mistake by Burns to put the ball into an empty net on 83 minutes.

Lochee made a double substitution on 86 minutes with Paul McLellan and Josh McConville replacing Greg Kirk and Johnston but McLellan was then sent off for a headbutt on Kirrie’s Robbie George.

Lochee skipper Grant Lawson received the Thorntons Property Cup from operations manager Yvonne O’Connor.

Kennoway Star Hearts knew what they had to do to retain their position in the First Division for 2022-23.

Although in manager Ally Griffin’s words “it was far from pretty”, Hearts managed to beat Ormiston 1-0 thanks to Daryl Falconer’s goal on 17 minutes and, with results elsewhere, the Treaton Park side finished in sixth place to guarantee their place in the second tier of the EOSL.

Unlike Kennoway, Thornton Hibs couldn’t manage the result that was required for them to retain their First Division place and their defeat at Edinburgh United sees Craig Gilbert’s side relegated to Division Two.

United took the lead through Ryan Quinn but Hibs were soon level thanks to Garry Thomson.

A point would have been enough for Hibs to take the last place ahead of Rosyth but the home side took that place away when Fraser Bell struck a winner on 87 minutes.

Kirkcaldy & Dysart completed an excellent season that saw them finish fourth with a 2-0 win over Arniston Rangers.

The deadlock was broken through Jay Bridgeford, and Mark Wilkie made sure of the points with a second for Craig Ness’s side.

Robbie Raeside’s St Andrews United made it two from two under the new manager with a 2-1 win over Dalkeith Thistle.

Lewis Sawers gave Saints the lead only for Darren Leslie to equalise for the visitors. Sawers struck the winner for Raeside’s men just before the hour mark.

It was an exciting afternoon in Conference B with the top three swapping positions several times as the games progressed.

Oakley United knew that if they could beat Edinburgh South then they would be champions and promoted to the Premier Division ahead of Glenrothes and Preston Athletic.

After just four minutes it was advantage Glenrothes as they took the lead at East Shore Park against Newburgh, and they strengthened their position three minutes into the second half when Kyle Bell scored a second.

As news filtered through to Oakley it got worse for Stewart Kenny’s men as Preston Athletic took the lead at home to Lochgelly Albert, who then had Craig Anderson sent off, after going behind.

However, everything changed on 72 minutes as Johnny Harrison gave Oakley United the lead at Edinburgh South and Kenny’s men went back to the top of the table.

As the games reached their conclusion, Preston Athletic added a second goal on 87 minutes and Stuart Cargill scored a third for Glenrothes at Newburgh.

Despite another goal for Preston against Lochgelly, who pulled a goal back in stoppage-time, Oakley held on for promotion to the Premier Division.

Elsewhere in Conference B, Burntisland Shipyard retained their First Division place with a 1-0 win over Kinnoull. Heriot Watt University thrashed Luncarty 5-0 at the Oriam Centre.

Lochore Welfare completed their season with a 3-0 win over Peebles Rovers at Central Park.