United need miracle to help stop the drop
Burnie sit six points from safety with six to play for
A double defeat for Blackburn United has them staring at relegation to the East of Scotland First Division.
The Burnie suffered a 1-0 home loss to Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts on Saturday before falling to a 4-1 defeat at Crossgates Primrose on Tuesday night.
That means Jamie McCormick’s side sit six points from safety with only six points remaining.
The Purdie Worldwide Community Stadium side battled miraculously in the closing stages last season to avoid defeat and know that it will have to be a repeat performance this time around.
However, they face bottom side Vale of Leithen this weekend and can be confident of picking up all three points.
That means should fourth-bottom Tynecastle fall to defeat at home to Hill of Beath Hawthorn, then Burnie’s fate is back in their own hands and sets up a thrilling season finale next weekend when they host Tynecastle knowing that a win would take them out of the bottom three on the last day of the season.
While Blackburn are facing relegation, Armadale Thistle are on the brink of promotion from the Third Division after their hard fought 3-2 away win over Bathgate Thistle.
Robbie Feeney netted twice against his former club with Stuart MacLeod adding the other.
That victory means a draw this weekend away at West Calder United would be enough to send Derek Strickland’s side up as they currently sit 15 points ahead of thirdplaced Edinburgh College with five games left in the season.
In the league above, Whitburn have all but secured their second successive promotion and a place in next season’s First Division thanks to a 4-1 away win over Peebles Rovers.
Louis Maguire, Darren Liddell, Michael McGarahan and Harrison Edwards bagged the goals for Darren Wilson’s side who will be looking to strengthen their title bid at the weekend when they travel to Dalkeith Thistle.
Elsewhere, Pumpherston did a quick-fire double over local rivals Livington United in Division Three as they picked up a 2-0 home win on Saturday before staging a remarkable comeback on Tuesday night at Station Park.
The ‘Ston were trailing 4-2 with just 10 minutes remaining before finding the net three times in the closing stages to seal a dramatic 5-4 victory.
There was goals aplenty at Gibbshill Park, too, in another West Lothian derby with Harthill Royal and Fauldhouse United sharing six in a 3-3 draw, while Stoneyburn picked up back-toback league wins for the first time since September.
Lewis McKee and Jack McLaughlin bagged the goals for the Fulshie with Scott McInnes netting a late consolation for the away side.
In the Premier Division, mid table Broxburn Athletic drew 1-1 away to Penicuik Athletic with Errol Douglas firing the Brox into a first-half lead.
Striker Greg Binnie has signed a new deal that will see him stay at Albyn Park next season.