GeoSonic Scottish Lowland Football League:

Kelty Hearts 1 East Kilbride 0

BARRY FERGUSON hailed the "frightening" desire of his Kelty Hearts players after they racked up a perfect 10th Lowland League victory in a row.

Scott Linton's second-half penalty ensured that the men in maroon remain two points clear at the summit with a second success over East Kilbride, the reigning champions, in little more than a month.

Nathan Austin, Kelty's top marksman with 33 goals so far this campaign, hit the decisive goal in their previous meeting on November 2 but the visitors arrived under new management, with Stuart Malcolm having moved to Forfar Athletic.

Former Pars full back Jim Paterson is in caretaker charge and his team restricted their opponents, who had hit an astonishing 57 goals in 13 league games prior to kick-off, in the opening exchanges.

Austin had the hosts' first real sight of goal in the 19th minute, shooting wide from the edge of the area, before Cammy Russell headed straight at East Kilbride goalkeeper Matt McGinley as they continued to probe in search of an opener.

Dylan Easton and Austin were both denied before the interval, while almost immediately after the restart, the latter was thwarted by McGinley from close range as he reacted to a loose ball.

Russell's drilled ball across the six-yard line found Austin lurking but the former Inverness hitman couldn't divert it into the net.

However, Kelty's dominance was finally rewarded in the 64th minute. Good work by Easton saw him dispossess Kieron Gibbons on the left and was brought down in the box by Ryan Sinnamon.

Linton was on hand to tuck home the spot-kick and, while Philp came close to adding a second goal, one proved enough for Kelty, who are two points clear of Bonnyrigg Rose at the top of the table.

Speaking to his club's video channel, Ferguson commented: "I thought the first five or 10 minutes we started a bit slow, just to get used to the way East Kilbride were going to play as they're obviously playing a bit different under the new manager, but I thought after that we took control of the full game.

"I don't think anyone will have any arguments that we deserved to win the game. The only downside is we never scored more goals but I'm absolutely delighted with the performance.

"I thought the attitude, the workrate, the desire of my boys was frightening at times, and credit to them, they're a joy to manage."

Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Premier Division:

Newtongrange Star 2 Crossgates Primrose 2

PRIMROSE manager Alan Campbell praised his team's battling qualities after they twice fought back to earn a share of the spoils at Newtongrange Star.

Ryan Cowie's 82nd-minute equaliser ensured that Crossgates would return home with a point, despite having James McAteer sent off three minutes later, to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.

The home side drew first blood 10 minutes before the break thanks to Kayne Paterson's cool finish.

Campbell's men, however, responded just seven minutes after the restart through defender Sean O'Neil, but were behind again in the 65th minute when Paterson netted his second of the game.

Crossgates fought back though and levelled again through Cowie and, despite losing McAteer, had opportunities to snatch all three points late on.

Campbell commented: "I thought that a draw was fair; I don't think either team deserved to win it or deserved to lose.

"We were behind twice and the good thing was we showed battling qualities and fought to the end. We weren't at our best; it was a horrible day, with winds of 30-40mph and rain driving down, so it wasn't easy to get the ball down and play, but it was the same for both teams.

"We were 1-0 down at half-time but we had a good chat and, for 10-15 minutes of the second half, we looked a good team. We scored a good goal but got hit with a breakaway goal. The players didn't let it affect them and to go away, dig in and get a point, I'm relatively happy. It keeps our wee unbeaten run going."

East of Scotland League, First Division, Conference A/B:

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 5 Peebles Rovers 1

INVERKEITHING Hillfield Swifts struck three times in the final two minutes to put the gloss on a fine win over Peebles Rovers.

Grant Brough's team, second-top of Conference B, welcomed a visiting side who occupy second-bottom spot in Conference A and were handed the perfect start by 17-year-old Ynyr Liddell.

On his first start for the Swifts' senior side, and having featured for their under-20s the night before, he opened the scoring after nine minutes before Robert Kinnaird doubled the advantage 17 minutes later.

Scott Inglis pulled one back for Peebles just before the hour mark but John Francis re-established Swifts' two-goal cushion as the clock moved into the 88th minute.

That wrapped up victory but, thanks to efforts from Reece Bernard and Scott Houston in added time, the hosts ended with a high five to halt a run of two successive league defeats.

"We scored three late goals but it was the correct result over the 90 minutes," Brough said.

"Once we got to 3-1, we just kept on pressing and got the goals that we deserved. We missed chances in the box but the boys did great; it was like a cast of the walking wounded!

"We had two 17-year-olds that started, one of them played 90 minutes the night before, and a couple of the players were running on empty having been in bed all week unwell.

"In reality, we had about eight fit players, so to come away and win 5-1 is great credit to them. The boys worked their socks off."

l Saturday's fixtures: GeoSonic Scottish Lowland Football League – Kelty Hearts v Vale of Leithen (3pm). Central Taxis East of Scotland, Premier Division – Blackburn United v Crossgates Primrose (2.30pm). First Division, Conference A/B – Craigroyston v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts (1.30pm), Oakley United v Coldstream (1.30pm). McBookie.com South Premier League – Linlithgow Rose CFC v Rosyth (2.30pm).