East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Crossgates Primrose 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1

THE points were shared in Saturday's Premier Division derby.

Both sides had been in good form going into the game and a strike from Greig Spence beat the Primrose keeper to put the Swifts in front, only for Scott Lawrie to equalise for Crossgates with a penalty.

The pitch was difficult for the sides to play on, as Swifts manager, Grant Brough, noted: "The conditions were difficult and it wasn’t a pretty game of football.

"I think we had more clear-cut chances in the game so I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t put a few more of them away. They’re a really good side and it’s another point gained on the road for us, which I’m pleased with."

Primrose boss Alan Campbell said: "I think the overriding feeling is a bit of disappointment. We didn’t hit the levels that we had been in recent weeks and didn’t play particularly well.

"The main positive I can take is that despite not playing well we still managed to get something from the game so we just have to move on."

Both sides have League Cup qualifying fixtures this weekend, with Swifts away to Edinburgh College, and Crossgates travelling to Livingston United, and Brough continued: "It’s a bit of a step into the unknown.

"I’ve tried to do a bit of research into them but there's not a lot of material out there on them with them being a new team. We can’t underestimate them just because they’re in a lower league, we just need to approach it in a professional manner and I would hope that we would have enough to get the victory."

Campbell added: "Our form's been quite inconsistent in cups this year. We’ve got to a final in one and then fell at the first hurdle in others.

"I think we’ll be favourites considering they’re a couple of leagues below but we’ll not be taking them lightly. I think it’ll be a tough game but it’s a nice break from the league and we still have to go and put on a performance there."

King Cup, third round: Haddington Athletic 2 Oakley United 0

OAKLEY UNITED crashed out of the King Cup after a goal in either half from Guy McGarry and Seamus Russell was enough to secure the win for the hosts.

It was the Blairwood Park men's first defeat in any competition since mid-October and manager Stewart Kenny commented: "It’s disappointing for us to exit a cup early when it’s one we thought we could have a good showing in. The boys have put in a lot of effort this season and, in particular this month, got some great results so this was just a bad day at the office if I’m honest."

There was a stoppage for about an hour while one of Oakley's players, Charlie Docherty, received treatment for a shoulder injury, which resulted in an ambulance being called and the player being taken to hospital, from where he was released having had a dislocated shoulder reset.

"I thought it was a fairly even game up until the hour's stoppage. We just didn’t get started and they did," Kenny continued.

"There was no fluency about us and we couldn’t get our passing game going. Haddington were a really good side and probably deserved the win but I’m sure we’ll bounce back next week against Peebles.

"Regardless of the result, we just hope Charlie makes a good recovery. It’s not nice to see anyone go off the park in an ambulance."

East of Scotland League, First Division, Conference A: Dunipace 5 Rosyth 2

ROSYTH suffered their third consecutive defeat on Saturday.

The visitors found themselves 5-0 down before Reagan Lumsden got two late, second-half consolations which led manager Russell Craig to admit that "it was not a good day at the office" for his team.

"Within a minute we were a goal down, which is something we need to sort," he said.

"We can’t go into these games with our backs against the wall and end up having to come back from a goal down. It was the same story as much of this season in that we are conceding goals at the worst time."

On turning his side's form around, Craig continued: "We’ve got a lot of work to do. We are blighted with injuries the now but that’s not an excuse. The boys need to start believing in themselves.

"There’s still four or five games left in the league and, if we want to finish where we want to, then we’re really going to have to pull our socks up and clamp down on these poor performances. You don’t get anything from football if you don’t give 100 per cent and there were certainly some performances like that on Saturday.

"We’re looking at getting some players in on loan as we’re getting to the nitty-gritty of the season. We’ve got a League Cup game this Saturday but we’ll treat it as any other game and there’s some of us that will need to turn up and improve our performances."

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland Qualifying League, Group C – Rosyth v Newtongrange Star. Group D – Edinburgh College v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts (3pm). Group F – Livingston United v Crossgates Primrose. Group K – Peebles Rovers v Oakley United.