Injury-hit Rosyth lose 10 goals in two games without reply

SAUCHIE put in a strong second-half performance to put Primrose out of the Challenge Cup.

Crossgates made a bad start and went behind after eight minutes when Scott Davidson netted, and just as they began to regroup and pose problems Mark Smith made it 2-0.

A fine finish by Cammy Muirhead brought the Fife side back into it but they were caught out in 28 minutes when Ross Hutchinson scored to make it 3-1 at the break.

Another goal for Primrose would have made it interesting, and they did have a go, but their Premier Division rivals put the game to bed with goals from Ross Kavanagh and Keiran Anderson booking Sauchie's spot in the next round of the competition.

Heads up. Crossgates Primrose (in blue) bounced back from their Challenge Cup defeat on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Luncarty on Tuesday night. (Image: David Wardle)

However, Alan Campbell's men quickly got that defeat out of their system on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Luncarty at Humbug Park.

And it was Muirhead at the double, he nabbed goals in the 11th minute and 66th minute to secure the three points.

The league win took them up two places in the Premier Division table to eighth, with seven points from five games.

Next up at Humbug Park is a clash with Berwick Rangers, who are currently 6th in the Lowland League, in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup on Saturday.

Rosyth 0 St Andrews United 4

ROSYTH failed to cope with a strong wind as they were blown away by a second half flurry of goals at the Fleet Grounds.

The depleted side made it to the break without conceding but tumbled out of the Challenge Cup when United began to find the net.

They did have their moments, Michael Ness smashed a good chance over the bar and Callum Strang had a header ruled out for offside, but they were well beaten in the end by their high flying First Division opponents and finished with 10 men when Mati Zara saw red after conceding a penalty. Manager Greig Denham said: "We had six boys out injured, which obviously doesn't help, and the majority would probably have started so it's not as if they were fringe players.

"That's out of a squad of 20, so we had to bring in a couple of under-20s boys to bolster it, and we've been missing our top scorer, Tam Hampson, for a while now.

"That's not an excuse, it's a fact, and we were up against tough opposition that we knew could cause us problems.

"Ironically, it's probably the best we've played in recent weeks, in terms of shape and how we tried to pass the ball, but without that quality in the final third.

"So I was pleased with the first half but to lose four goals at home in the second half, no-one needs to tell me that's unacceptable."

He continued: "The third goal was a freak goal, due to the strong wind, and the fourth was a penalty.

"We had a man sent off at the penalty incident, but it was right at the death, there are no excuses for the manner of the defeat.

"I think the scoreline flattered St Andrews, I'm sure they'd agree, but it doesn't change the fact we lost 4-0.

"We'll dust ourselves down and go again. We need to show a bit of character but there's more to come from this squad."

However it got even worse for Rosyth on Tuesday night as they were smashed 6-0 at Heriot-Watt University.

The league defeat leaves them second bottom of the First Division.

They face the team below them, Vale of Leithen, at home on Saturday with Denham hopeful of having "one or two" of his injured players available.

Crossgates Primrose (in blue) bounced back from their Challenge Cup defeat on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Luncarty on Tuesday night. (Image: David Wardle)

Oakley United 1 Dunbar United 4

OAKLEY gave their Premier Division opponents a fright before Dunbar eventually showed their class to win this East of Scotland Qualifying Cup tie.

The Blairwood Park men took the lead in the 21st minute, the visiting goalie could have done better with Scott Bruce’s shot which found the net from just outside the box.

That was against the run of play and the Fife team, who are struggling in the lower reaches of the First Division, weren't in front for long.

Dunbar levelled with a free kick from James Redpath and only a fine Sean Dolan tackle prevented them from taking the lead.

That respite was short-lived however and just before the break Johnny Edmond edged the visitors ahead.

Finn McLaren and Jason Watson came close for Oakley but Dunbar finished off the tie with second half strikes from Taylor Hendry and Darren Handling.

Oakley, currently 14th in the table with three points from four games, travel to face Leith Athletic in a league match on Saturday.

Whitburn 4 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 6

THIS turned out to be a crazy 10-goal thriller where Swifts nearly threw it all away before claiming a morale-boosting first win of the season.

They were 3-0 and 4-2 up before being pegged back but just as momentum swung towards the home team, Inverkeithing toughed it out to progress to the next round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.

After no wins and no points from three league games, boss Jason Dair is hoping the victory will give his players the confidence to climb out of bottom spot in the table.

"Definitely, that's the aim now," he said. "I'm not happy we lost four goals but I'm happy we scored six!

"We dug in and showed a bit of character so we just need to take that spirit into the league games."

Whitburn, riding high in the First Division, would have fancied their chances of taking the scalp of a team in the division above and the Swifts boss was wary of their threat.

Dair said: "Obviously it was a tough game for us.

"Whitburn have spent a bit of cash and had some good results but we got off to a quick start, and managed to go 3-0 up with goals from Ben Ramage, Ronan McMurchie and Liam Kelly."

Ramage thumped a great effort into the top corner, McMurchie intercepted a pass back and rounded the keeper to net and a similar blunder allowed Kelly to score.

Dair blamed "defensive errors" for letting Whitburn back into it and it was 3-2 at half-time, with one of the goals from the penalty spot.

Ryan Cowie put Swifts 4-2 up after the break but the home side fought back again to level at 4-4.

The boss said: "We could have lost it, as we've lost a couple of close games recently so confidence wasn't high, but credit to the lads for finishing it off with goals from Che Reilly and Sean Cumming."

Swifts faced Sauchie at home in a Premier Division match last night (Wednesday) after the Press went to print and they've got another home game in the league against Dunbar on Saturday.

Dair said: "We had a good, hard pre-season but we've picked up a few niggly injuries to important players so we've not really settled yet.

"Hopefully we'll get a couple of them back soon and we'll be stronger.

"If someone did become available, we may look at it but the priority is progressing the ones we have and bringing the under-20s lads through."

Saturday fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): East of Scotland Qualifying Cup – Crossgates Primrose v Berwick Rangers; Premier Division – Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Dunbar United (2pm kick-off); First Division – Leith Athletic v Oakley United, Rosyth v Vale of Leithen.