The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Swifts hold off Dunbar to win Qualifying Cup
Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts defeated Dunbar United to win the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup in yesterday’s final at New Victoria Park, Newtongrange.
The Swifts may be in the middle of a battle to retain Premier League status, but showed no signs of inferiority as they raced into an early two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Aaron Wood and Ben Finnan.
That was how it stood until the Seasiders were awarded a penalty after 72 minutes which Taylor Hendry converted. But the Fifers held on to create a little bit of history which can only be a big boost to their survival hopes.
In the Premier League, there were mixed fortunes for Fife outfits battling to stay up.
Crossgates Primrose edged out bottom side Kinnoull at Tulloch Park courtesy of Jake Sutherland scoring the only goal of the game on 58 minutes.
For the Perth club, this defeat, technically, if not mathematically, consigns them to the drop.
Who will join them is no clearer, given Crossgates were the only team to pick up points but remain second bottom on 20 points.
Glenrothes went down 2-0 at Warout to Hutchison Vale, for whom Sean Wringe and Patryck Jelen netted. That leaves the Glens out of the bottom three, but only on goal difference.
With Luncarty losing 2-1 at home to Mussleburgh, the Bleachers remain a point ahead of Glenrothes.
With the exception of Swifts, who have three games to play, the trio of other threatened clubs have four matches left, so it promises to be a tight finish.
Hill of Beath came from behind to defeat Tynecastle 2-1 at Keirs Park thanks to an improved second half performance.
Brandon Luke cancelled out Ryan Cameron’s first half opener on 57 minutes and Daniel Watt bagged the winner eight minutes from the end.
For Dundonald Bluebell, it was a day to forget, going down 5-1 at home to Penicuik. The visitors went in two up at the break, but Regan Lumsden pulled one back scoring from the rebound after his effort from a penalty for handball hit the underside of the bar.
But Bluebell were then floored by Ben Wardlaw bagging a hat-trick.
A superb 5-1 home win over Newtongrange Star fired St Andrews United into the semi-final of the King Cup for the second successive year.
Their reward is a home tie with Leith Athletic on a date still to be announced.
The Saints hitmen were James Murage, Ryan Dignan, Lewis Sawers, Tom Milne and Scott Reekie.
A win of that magnitude bodes well for the forthcoming league meeting at New Victoria Park which was postponed in midweek due to a floodlight failure.
With both Camelon and Whitburn winning, Saints slipped out of the top three but only on goal difference.
Elsewhere in the second tier, Kirkcaldy & Dysart and Lochore Welfare were involved in goalless draws.
K&D drew at Arniston Rangers – the Fifers’ fourth clean sheet in five outings.
Lochore were held at home by Blackburn to miss out on a treble of wins over the Lothian side.
It did take Welfare a point nearer safety as they are now 11 points clear of second-bottom Oakley on whom they have four games in hand.
That was due to Oakley going down 3-1 at Preston Athletic, with Shay Brough scoring the visitors’ consolation counter.
Thornton Hibs are on the brink of promotion from the Second Division, scoring five without reply at home to Dalkeith Thistle.
It was their 15th straight league win and four points from the seven remaining matches will seal their promotion. Goals came from Garry Thomson, Stuart Drummond, Ross Hain, Andy McCallion and Keir Allan.
Kennoway Star Hearts ran out 4-0 winners at Paties Road to ease their relegation fears, but at the same time consigned hosts Edinburgh United to the Third Division.
Dylan Walker hit a hattrick while Lee Bryce grabbed the other.
Newburgh were in action at Paties Road facing promotion-chasing Edinburgh South yesterday.
Owen McNally gave Burgh a fourth minute lead, but it was short-lived as Kenny O’Brien levelled five minutes later.
East Shore hopes of a second successive point were shattered when Reece Ferguson struck the winner on 77 minutes, but he blotted his copybook by being red-carded five minutes from time.
Lochgelly Albert defeated Stoneyburn at Purvis Park, with their 3-1 win enabling the Berts to leapfrog their guests up to sixth in the Third Division.
A Scott Russell header put the Bert in front after 23 minutes and his 22nd of the season doubled the advantage. The visitors reduced the leeway, only for Martin Wood to add a third in stoppage time.