The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hibs’ 17-in-a-row earns promotion
Who goes down and who stays up in the East of Scotland League Premier Division remains very tight, with only Kinnoull’s demotion decided.
Crossgates Primrose are precariously positioned after losing 2-1 at home to Dunbar United.
Two down with less than 20 minutes gone, Paul Brown did pull one back for Primrose but that was as good as it got for Alan Campbell’s side.
With just two very tough games left, the Humbug Park outfit must win both to have any chance of staying up.
Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts defeated Glenrothes 4-2 to keep their head above water.
Defeat would have left them doomed. They remain in the drop zone, however, so must win their final game away at Hill of Beath.
Swifts led twice, through Dylan Vannett and an own goal, with Dean Whitlett and an own goal levelling up the score.
Second-half strikes from Ben Finnan and Liam Kelly kept Swifts’ hopes alive.
Glens, only out of the bottom three thanks to a better goal difference, have two games left – Dunbar at home and Tynecastle away.
The fourth team in the mix are Luncarty, who are a point ahead of both Glenrothes and Swifts and have home games against Jeanfield Swifts and Hutchison Vale.
The two top-flight kingdom sides sitting safely in mid-table both lost.
Hill of Beath were beaten by the last kick of the game away to Haddington, with Jo Viola scoring the stoppage-time winner.
Sean Wringe opened the scoring for the hosts with Dan Baur levelling for the Haws.
Dundonald Bluebell were beaten 4-0 at Musselburgh. Jordan Smith scored twice from spot-kicks with Nicky Reid and Zach Kahn also on the scoresheet.
St Andrews returned from hapless Vale of Leithen with three points to enhance their promotion push to the Premier Division.
Saints won 7-0 with Lewis Sawers scoring five of them. Ryan McManus, from a free-kick, and an own goal completed the scoring.
With results elsewhere going their way, Robbie Raeside’s charges now require just one win to clinch promotion to the top flight.
Saints have an early opportunity to cement that on Wednesday at home to Whitburn.
Kirkcaldy & Dysart led twice away to championselect Dunipace but still ended up on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline.
John Smith opened the scoring, but Tristian McArthur levelled. The Fifers went in front again when Ryan McEwan converted a penalty.
Aiden McAvoy equalised and Kieran Anderson’s double and a Ryan Fleming counter took the hosts to the brink of the title.
After losing 3-1 at home to Heriot-Watt, Lochore Welfare are still looking for the four points required to stay up.
Scott Warrender was the Welfare scorer, equalising after going behind, but a late surge by the students earned them victory.
Oakley slipped to a 4-1 defeat at Whitehill Welfare and moved a step closer to dropping into the Second Division.
Jonny Grotin, Lewis Collins, Ty O’Neill and John Devers were the home side’s scorers with Scott Bruce netting Oakley’s consolation counter.
Despite going a goal behind after 33 seconds, Thornton Hibs fought back to get the better of their hosts, third-placed Armadale, to secure promotion to the First Division.
Robbie Hall cancelled out Josh Gillespie’s early strike on the half-hour mark and Garry Thomson netted the winner to post Hibs’ 17th successive victory.
Kennoway Star Hearts came away from Stirling University with all three points thanks to a late welldeserved winner.
Lewis Black put Hearts ahead but the students replied before the break.
A late penalty award gave the Fifers a chance to win it. Dylan Walker’s effort was saved but Euan Wilson slotted in the rebound.
Burntisland Shipyard succumbed to a 5-1 defeat away to league leaders Bo’ness Athletic. Ethan Bauld was the Shippy scorer.
Already-relegated Newburgh lost 2-1 away to Peebles Rovers, with Kyle Kivlichan’s winner coming eight minutes from time.
Mitchell Sharp gave Burgh the lead on 15 minutes and Jamie Mackay levelled after 41 minutes.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Burgh, however, as they have moved off the bottom after Edinburgh United were deducted nine points, leaving them six behind the Fifers.
Lochgelly Albert rang up their biggest win of the season, hitting Linton Hotspur for six without reply to move up to sixth in the table.
Scott Russell hit a hattrick, Declan Boyle bagged a brace and Callum Benwell was also on the scoresheet.