East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Blackburn United 1 Crossgates Primrose 4

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to six matches with an impressive win at Blackburn United.

Alan Campbell’s side produced an excellent show in West Lothian to move into sixth place in the table.

Darren Aitken’s first-time volley gave them an early lead, which Stewart MacDonald added to with a fine turn and shot on the stroke of half-time.

Although Marcus Millar pulled one back just before the hour mark, Cammy Muirhead re-established Crossgates’ two-goal advantage with 11 minutes left, before Brian Ritchie completed the scoring.

“I’m really pleased. It was a great away performance and we got what we deserved,” Campbell said.

“We started really well and got a goal in front, and we scored at good times in the game. They had quite a period where they had the upper hand in the first half, but we scored at a good time, on the stroke of half-time, which I think knocked the stuffing out of them.

“Credit to them, they came at us, but we defended well and stood up to it. We looked like we’ve got goals in us; that’s four, four, five and two in our last four away games.

“We’ve got a hard game on Saturday against Dunbar. It should be a really good game, and tight, but we’re at home. If we perform like we did on Saturday, we’ll be hard to beat.”

East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Dunbar United 3 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1

THE battling spirit of the Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts players pleased manager Grant Brough despite going down to defeat at Dunbar, bringing their seven-game unbeaten league streak to an end.

Midway through the half, the hosts took the lead through Andy Jones, after Greig Spence came close to giving the Swifts the lead with a shot that was cleared off the line.

Ryan Cowie and Spence both had opportunities to level but, early in the second half, Jones notched his second of the game for Dunbar, who added a third in the 55th minute through Berwick Rangers loanee Dan Purves.

Callum Murray did net a consolation for the Swifts, and Brough said: “We had a disappointing first 30 minutes; we never got going and were off it. In the last 30 minutes I thought we played well, but by that time we were 3-0 down.

“The pleasing thing for me is that when we went 3-0 down, we never gave in. We still had five or six good chances in the first half. If you take a couple of them, it might be a different story.

“It shows how far we’ve come that we’ve been beaten and the boys are gutted.”

East of Scotland League, First Division, Conference A: Kennoway Star Hearts 3 Rosyth 1

ROSYTH co-manager Russell Craig is hopeful that the return of some key men can help his side bounce back from defeat to Kennoway Star Hearts.

The visitors, who were boosted pre-match by both Gregg Page and Callum Strang signing contract extensions, were shorn of the likes of Brodie Hamilton, Tam Hampson and Graeme Nutt but gave as good as they got against former Rec boss Lee Richardson’s side.

Regan Lumsden’s fine left-foot strike an hour into proceedings put them ahead, only for Lewis Payne to equalise.

Daryl Falconer’s double, despite a last-minute red card for Hearts’ Jason Watson, sealed the three points for the hosts, and Craig said: “They are sitting third so we knew it was going to be a challenge.

“We were disappointed to have the lead and lose it, but we’ll have the boys who were missing back for a big game against Haddington, who are flying. The boys need to start believing in themselves like myself and Dean (Ogg, fellow co-manager) do.

“It was slightly disappointing but we’ll keep battling as best we can.”

East of Scotland League, First Division, Conference B: Oakley United 5 Hawick Royal Albert United 0

STEWART KENNY praised the professionalism of his Oakley United side after they hit five to move top of the table.

The Blairwood Park side recorded their fourth win on the spin and took their goal tally in that period to 17 with a comfortable win against bottom side Hawick Royal Albert United.

Mark Mooney set the ball rolling for Oakley in the 33rd minute and Stuart Love’s double inside a minute – the first coming from the penalty spot – sent them three goals up at half-time.

Jack Cowan and Bruce McAdam completed the scoring by the hour mark and, on going top, Kenny noted: “It’s a good wee place to be.

“We knew going into the game that it was always one we had the potential to win but you’ve still got a job to do.

“The boys, to their credit, turned up, showed what they can do and took the game to Hawick.

“The top seven or eight are starting to break away so we’ve got to try and beat the teams that are also going to be in there. Come March and April, we want to be in the mix, so the league games over the course of the next six weeks are massive.”

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland League, Premier Division – Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Musselburgh Athletic (2pm), Crossgates Primrose v Dunbar United. First Division, Conference A – Rosyth v Haddington Athletic. Conference B – Heriot-Watt  University v Oakley United (3pm).