Musselburgh Athletic 7 Oakley United 0, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

OAKLEY UNITED'S difficult Premier Division season continued at the weekend as they fell to a heavy loss at Musselburgh Athletic.

Peter Goldie's team went into the match having lost their last five league matches, with their last victory coming at Vale of Leithen in October, but the East Lothian outfit proved too strong.

The hosts, who sit fourth, above Crossgates Primrose on goal difference, opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through Jordan Smith, before he added his second from the penalty spot six minutes later.

Former Pars defender, Declan O'Kane, added a third before the break for Musselburgh, who went four goals up just before the hour mark thanks to another penalty that Smith converted for his hat-trick.

Smith quickly added his fourth of the afternoon, and the hosts' fifth of the day, before late goals from Liam Reid and George Hunter completed a tough day at the office for Oakley, who remain second bottom and 17 points adrift of safety.

Penicuik Athletic 1 Crossgates Primrose 1, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE remain unbeaten in 2023 after picking up a hard-earned point at Penicuik Athletic.

The visitors, who won at Dunbar United, after extra time, in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup in midweek, were without half-a-dozen players for their trip to Midlothian, and lost Mark McKenzie to a knee injury in the first half.

Despite that, they started well, opening the scoring through Craig Reid's header from a free-kick after only four minutes, but Andy Forbes' equaliser for the hosts before half-time ensured the spoils were shared, with Archie Campbell spurning a late opportunity to win it for Primrose.

"It was probably a fair result. If anything, Penicuik maybe just shaded it," boss Alan Campbell said.

"In the first half, we made a good start, and scored a good goal from a set piece. In the first 30 minutes, we looked a threat, were in a bit of control and defended well, but we lost a soft goal from a cross from the left, where we didn't pick up.

"For 5-10 minutes we looked a wee bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights, but we got them in at half-time and re-organised things. In the second half, they had most of the game; they hit the bar once, and our goalkeeper made one good save.

"We had an unbelievable opportunity in the last minute to win it, but that would have been a bit of a smash and grab."

Jeanfield Swifts 2 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

CRAIG MORRISON said that he was proud of Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts' performance despite losing out at high-flying Jeanfield Swifts.

Two goals either side of half time, from Chris McLeish and Aaron Whitehead, gave the second-top hosts the three points, but head coach Morrison was not despondent.

"I was impressed with them (Jeanfield). I thought they were a quality side, which we anticipated before going up there. We knew it was going to be tough.

"They pressed us hard, and are a good team on the ball, but we defended really well. Michael (Gibb, Swifts' keeper) made one good save, and we had some decent chances. We were solid enough and used the ball well.

"They nicked a second and we reverted to two up top. In the last 20 minutes, we were excellent and, on another day, we should've scored one or two goals.

"We were proud of the boys; their effort was excellent."

Dunbar United 1 Rosyth 0, East of Scotland League, First Division

A LATE penalty saw Rosyth suffer a narrow loss in a hard-fought clash with table-toppers Dunbar United.

Johnny Edmond converted from the spot, following a push inside the area, to give the East Lothian outfit all three points against Greig Denham's side.

Both teams had opportunities to score, with the visitors particularly having efforts in the opening period, but Edmond's effort from 12 yards,with four minutes to go, prevented Rosyth from building on their 5-0 win at Dunipace by becoming the first team to take a point away from New Countess Park this season.

Saturday's fixture (kick off 2pm): East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Oakley United v Crossgates Primrose.