East of Scotland League: Crossgates Primrose go second

CROSSGATES Primrose boss Alan Campbell insists they won't get carried away despite rising to second place in the table.

The Humbug Park outfit are the closest challengers to leaders Linlithgow Rose following a comeback victory against bottom side Vale of Leithen.

Archie Roue gave the visitors a shock first-half lead but Brian Ritchie replied four minutes after the restart before Scott Lawrie's 76th-minute spot-kick put Crossgates ahead.

Cammy Muirhead clinched their win with three minutes left, moving Primrose to within six points of top spot.

"I was delighted with the result," Campbell said.

"I think it was a tough game. They're in a position where they're fighting for their lives, and they made a game of it. We could have scored more, but that would've been harsh on them."

He added: "We feel, as a group, we should have more points. We're not getting carried away; it's so tight behind us."

East of Scotland League, First Division: Rosyth 3 Whitehill Welfare 1

GREIG DENHAM says he "can't really have asked for any more" from his Rosyth players after they picked up another win on Saturday.

After their previous outing at Camelon was abandoned due to an injury picked up by the referee, the Rec saw off Whitehill Welfare to record a fifth victory in seven matches.

Darren Ormiston gave Rosyth the lead at the Fleet Grounds before they found themselves reduced to 10 men when Jason Penman was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the home side increased their lead thanks to two successful Dan Hall penalties, before Marc Malloy scored a consolation for Welfare in stoppage time.

"It was a well-deserved three points," Denham said.

"To finish as strongly as we did with 10 men was really pleasing and shows the team spirit, the structure, the organisation and the resilience.

"Jason acknowledged it (his red card) was a bit unwise of him. His team-mates rallied round him and pulled him out a hole. I was really pleased with that. He's been excellent for us, and will be sorely missed due to suspension, but it's up to other lads to come in and stake their claim.

"We were the better team, no doubt about it. They had a couple of chances which they squandered but, equally, we had a few chances that we squandered. We had the better and more clear-cut opportunities.

"To win five out of seven games, I couldn't really have asked for any more.

"There's a good atmosphere, a good spirit, and the coaching staff are upbeat about the direction we're going in, without getting carried away."

Denham added that Rosyth had organised a friendly at Haddington Athletic on November 26.

East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Oakley United 0 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2

OAKLEY UNITED fell to a fifth straight defeat in all competitions and 11 points from safety.

Peter Goldie's team, who have lost all but one of their 12 league matches, were beaten after conceding twice in two first-half minutes.

It's a sixth home defeat from six in the league for Oakley, who were promoted last season, and their three points accumulated so far leaves them in second-bottom spot, above Vale of Leithen only on goal difference.

East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Sauchie 4 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0

INVERKEITHING Hillfield Swifts' run without a league victory has stretched to 10 matches.

Pat Scullion's side, who haven't won in the league since August, went into the break level but a red card issued to Lewis Hynd, for two bookable offences, made their task more difficult.

The result leaves the Swifts 10th in the table, four places but only one point above third-bottom Tynecastle.

l Saturday's fixtures:– East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Oakley United (2.30pm). South Challenge Cup, third round: Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Bo'ness Athletic (2pm).