The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Glenrothes slip up in race for the title
Glenrothes’ hopes of being crowned champions of the EOSL First Division took what appears a fatal blow after going down 4-2 to Whitehill Welfare at Warout.
Despite leaders Dunbar United being held to a draw at Leith, it opened up a two-point advantage over the Fifers ahead of next Saturday’s final round of fixtures.
Having gone behind, Glens went in level at the break thanks to a Jack Smith strike.
However, Whitehill scored twice early in the second half and, although Connor Schiavone immediately reduced the arrears, the visitors’ fourth consigned the Glens to only their fifth league defeat of the season.
There was more than just bragging rights at stake in the Fife derby between Lochore Welfare and Burntisland Shipyard, whose 2-0 win lifted themselves out of the drop zone and pushed the hosts back into the bottom three, although both are level on points.
However, Lochore have a game in hand – away to Kinnoull tomorrow – then face Coldstream who are also on the same points as the Fife pair, with Shippy having by far the best goal difference.
Jordan Galloway hit the 24th-minute opener, but Shippy could only breathe easily after Jack Wilson added a second six minutes from time.
In another kingdom derby, Rosyth recorded a comfortable 3-1 win at home to Kennoway Star Hearts to move into the top half of the table.
Jay Tapping, Aiden Mcavoy and Marc Sludden were the Recs scorers, with Star pulling one back in stoppage-time through Declan Nugent.
Kirkcaldy & Dysart went down to the only goal of the game at Kinnoull, scored by Sean Fergus.
ESOL Third Division runners-up St Andrews United cruised to a 4-1 victory away to Stirling University Reserves. Saints’ scorers were Ewan White, Ryan Dignan, Kyle Sneddon and Jordan Mackenzie.
Thornton Hibs ended their five-match losing streak, courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Dalkeith Thistle at Memorial Park.
Gary Thomson gave them the lead after 18 minutes, but Thistle hit back to lead before Thomson’s second of the match squared matters after 54 minutes with Adam Drummond getting the winner three minutes later.
Although losing 1-0 away to relegated Hawick, results elsewhere ensured Newburgh stay up.
Bottom-of-the-table Lochgelly Albert twice came from behind to earn a creditable draw at Tweedmouth.
Trailing by a goal at the interval, Sean Johnstone levelled on the hour mark, only to immediately fall behind again. However, Connor Murdoch restored parity six minutes later.
Carnoustie Panmure’s bid to win a domestic treble faltered at the first hurdle when they were soundly beaten 4-1 by North End in the Quest Engineering Cup final.
This was the Gowfers’ third match in six days and began to look a bit weary in the second half as the Dokens pounced with three goals to lift the trophy.
The Gowfers got off to a bright start and took the lead on 18 minutes through Gordon Mcdonald.
The Dokens responded positively and drew level when Jordan Garden cracked in the equaliser on 34 minutes.
North End got off to the best possible start in the second half with a goal six minutes in from Brian Rice.
The Gowfers tried their best to get back in the game but, as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the tie was over five minutes from time when Owen Mccabe made it three.
Then, just on time, Josh Mclaughlin put the icing on the cake for North End with a fourth.