OAKLEY UNITED boss James Watt admitted that his side have played better and lost after securing successive Premier League wins for the first time this season.

Goals from Mark Connors and Alan McDonough saw the Blairwood Park side follow up their win at Tayport with a 2-1 success over Dalkeith Thistle in one of only three East Region matches to take place as the freezing weekend conditions decimated the junior card.

The victory hoisted Oakley into fifth in the table - although their 18 games played is the most in the division - but Watt’s aim of consolidating their league status this season is on course to being achieved.

He told Press Sport, “We’re trying to go about our business quietly, go out to try and win every game and see where it takes us. Two or three wins puts you in a healthy position but two or three defeats will put you back down to where you’ve been. I don’t look at league tables - I just try to win each game as they come and make sure the players are working hard for the club. At the moment we’re doing that.” The hosts went into this match with confidence after a solid start to the new year but they had to battle hard against a determined Thistle side aiming to go one better than their Super League play-off defeat to Kelty Hearts last season.

Goalkeeper David Manderson, hailed by his manager as one of Oakley’s key players, was in fine form throughout the first half as he frustrated the Midlothian visitors by producing good saves to deny David Morris and Sean Lally.

Morris should then have put Dalkeith in front as he ran clear on goal only to hammer the ball off the post, and that miss proved costly as Oakley took the lead after 38 minutes when Connors lashed the ball into the net following a scramble in the box.

Substitute Derek Murray rattled the crossbar before the hosts added their second on the hour mark through McDonough’s excellent 12-yard shot from a tight angle.

Although Jamie Patterson pulled one back for Dalkeith with 12 minutes remaining, Oakley held firm and Watt continued, “To get two wins in a row is a massive thing and a monkey off our back, but we did it without playing great. Dalkeith will feel disappointed at coming away with nothing like we were through there earlier in the season. We could’ve played better and at half-time we hadn’t kicked a ball yet were 1-0 up.

“We had a wee go and got a reaction to go 2-0 up but instead of trying to impose themselves on the game we fell back a bit. But we defended well and saw the game out at the end which was pleasing because they’re a good side and will be up there when the prizes are handed out at the end of the season.

“We’ve proved that we can beat teams who are above us and we’ll move on to Montrose on Saturday. I think they’ve won seven or eight games on the bounce and are top of the league, but we’ll go up there with confidence as we’ve already beaten them down here. We’ve won two in a row - lets try and make it three.” Watt confirmed that he has completed the loan signing of Raith Rovers’ young winger Aaron Wood while there was the “possibility of a couple moving out on loan”.

Following the postponement of their Super League encounter at Lochee United, Kelty Hearts took on Tayport in a friendly on the 3G surface at St Andrews University on Saturday and went down to a 3-0 defeat.

Boss Thomas Courts has also been busy off the field, making Stephen Manson, Scott Lawrie and Gary Greenhill available for transfer by mutual agreement. Chris Hughes, Murray McDowall and Paul Shields are available for loan as they need games to aid their recovery from injury and all enquiries should be made to Dean McKenzie on 07864999989.

There was also weather woe for Rosyth as their South Division clash at Livingston United was frozen off but manager Lee Richardson said he was hopeful that this weekend’s clash with Tranent at Recreation Park would go ahead.

He will however be without midfielder Scott McCrindle, who has been released by mutual consent, but is looking to bring in at least one new player to the club on loan.

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 1.45pm): McBookie.com Super League – Lochee United v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com Premier League – Montrose Roselea v Oakley United. McBookie.com South Division – Crossgates Primrose v Pumpherston, Rosyth v Tranent.