Armadale Thistle edge closer to promotion

Derek Strickland’s final year in football looks all but certain to end in style as his Armadale Thistle side moved to the brink of sealing promotion thanks to a 2-1 derby win over Fauldhouse United.

Sammy Watson and Robbie Feeney bagged the goals for the Dale and they now sit 12 points clear of Edinburgh College with 18 points remaining as they bid for a place in next season’s East of Scotland Second Division.

Strickland is retiring at the end of the season and bringing down the curtain on an illustrious career that involved stints at Leicester City and Rangers as a player before managerial spells at Whitburn, Bathgate Thistle and latterly ArmadaleThistle.

Elsewhere there were five-star derby performances from both Bathgate Thistle and Pumpherston as they scored five in victories over Livingston

United and Stoneyburn respectively. Ally McInnes bagged a treble as Thistle beat United 5-0 with James McCullagh adding two.

Pumphy picked up a 5-1 win at home to managerless Stoneyburn thanks to a Chris Rooney brace as well as goals from Owen Main, Aaron Gowans and Kieran Sweeney.

Also in the Third Division, Harthill Royal were edged out 2-1 at home to

Edinburgh College.

In cup action, West Calder United fell just short of causing an upset as they lost 1-0 at home to a Newtongrange Star side two divisions above them in the King Cup, while Linlithgow Rose won their League Cup third round tie 2-0 at home to Kennoway Star Hearts with goals from Sandy Cunningham and Mark Stowe sealing their place in the next round.