Published: Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 11:45am

'We've got to stay up for Scott' says Oakley boss

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GRIEVING club Oakley United have vowed to pull off the Premier League Great Escape for tragic midfielder Scott Lammie.

The 25-year-old was killed in a road accident near Inverurie in the early hours of Sunday morning and the club cancelled their cup tie against Lochee United on Monday night and training the following day with everyone at Blairwood Park in mourning.

Work commitments for his job with Scottish Power led him to be in the north and limited his appearances for Oakley this season.

He hadn"t played in United"s 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Dundonald hours before his death which reduced Oakley"s chances of staying up.

Oakley are currently fifth from bottom of the Premier League, just two points ahead of Dundonald, who have two games in hand.

Oakley boss Stevie Kay told Press Sport, 'We"ve just got to try and do it for him.

"We"ve got to go and try to stay in this league and we have the spirit to do it.'

Defeat in Saturday"s six-pointer was Oakley"s first since January. Peter Fyfe levelled for Oakley after Dundonald had taken the lead but a controversial penalty gave Bluebell all three points.

'That"s the worst we have played since we came in and I never saw it coming in a million years,' Kay said.

'Dundonald were a bit more hungry and imposed themselves on us, getting right in our faces.

'It"s a learning curve for them but for myself too. I found out one or two things about some of the boys.

"Maybe I was too loyal to a couple of the boys when I shouldn"t have been.'

Oakley play Ballingry, one place below them in the table, home and away in their final two matches while Dundonald play bottom-of-the-table Blairgowrie home and away before facing away matches at Ballingry and Carnoustie.

Central League team Crossgates Primrose are looking for a new management team.

Boss Bert Smillie was unable to continue because of personal commitments and while coaches Alan Sneddon and Graeme Morrison had hoped initially to take the reins, they too have now left the club after Saturday"s 3-2 win at Luncarty, secured by goals from Kris Myles (2) and Ross Cowan.

Crossgates secretary Derrick Easton told Press Sport, 'It"s a never-ending saga.

"We were doing alright up to a point and then it just came to a halt. The players are still there and they"ve not turned into a bad team overnight.

'Two or three players have said they will oversee this week"s game and we"re not really looking any further than that.'

Primrose have four league games and one cup match left to play this season and Easton said the committee was keeping an open mind about Smillie"s successor.

'I"m not sure whether we"ll appoint now or wait until the summer,' Easton said.

'We"ll just see what applicants we get. It"s about getting the right person. Someone with juniors experience would help but it"s not necessary when you see what Stevie Kay (ex-Burntisland Shipyard) has done at Oakley.'

Kelty Hearts and Rosyth Recreation both made progress in the cups. Goals from Russell Smart, Craig Morrison and Tam McGeorge gave Kelty a 3-2 home win over Kinnoull in the second round of the Redwood Leisure Cup, while a double from Charles Scarborough and one from Thomas O"Brien helped Rosyth beat Newburgh 3-0 at home in the first round of the Maloco Cup.

Steelend Victoria were beaten 3-0 at home by Thornton Hibs in the East Central League.

Saturday"s fixtures: East Central Bukta Teamwear.com League – Rosyth Recreation v Crossgates Primrose, Steelend Victoria v Lochore Welfare. (Kick-offs 2.30pm).

A minute"s silence will be held before all juniors games on Saturday in memory of Scott Lammie.