Hillfield draw but Stevie Crawford suffers first defeat as Rosyth boss
Penicuik Athletic 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1
East of Scotland League - Premier Division
JASON DAIR felt his Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts side should have taken three points after they were held to a draw by Penicuik Athletic.
After ending a run of four successive defeats, three of which came in the league, at Pumpherston in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup the previous week, the visitors travelled to Midlothian seeking their first points on the road this season.
Their cause was helped when the hosts’ Liam Hall was shown a 26th-minute red card for a dangerous tackle, and eight minutes later Che Reilly fired Swifts ahead with a superb finish from the edge of the box.
That looked like being enough to secure the win for Inverkeithing but, with nine minutes to go, Andy Forbes tapped in an equaliser from close range after a corner kick was twice flicked on and into his path.
There was a nervy finish for the visitors, who also had a goal ruled out for offside, when Ryan Mauchlan was also shown red, and Dair reflected to Press Sport: “There wasn’t much between the teams to start with.
“With the way it went, it was a game we probably should’ve won, but we’ve not picked up a lot of points through there in the past so it was a good point away from home, I suppose.
“I was just slightly disappointed when we were playing against 10 men that we didn’t press home our advantage and get a bit more of a cushion than one goal.
“You’re always going to get a chance with balls into the box.
“I think we had enough possession and enough chances.”
Hutchison Vale 3 Crossgates Primrose 0 East of Scotland League - Premier Division
MANAGER Alan Campbell said he wasn’t too downbeat despite watching his Crossgates Primrose side fall to defeat against Hutchison Vale last Friday evening.
The Humbug Park outfit made the trip to Edinburgh but travelled back across the Forth on the back of a three goal loss.
Primrose, who had not played in two weeks, had been looking to bounce back from their home derby defeat to near neighbours, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, last time out but fell behind on the stroke of half-time.
Joe Viola’s close-range finish gave the home side the advantage, which they doubled before the interval when Tony Muir netted from around eight yards after a cross was deflected into his path.
A penalty, given for a foul on Viola, allowed Scott Maxwell to complete the scoring just after the hour mark as Hutchison Vale won their third successive Premier Division match.
Campbell, who was still without key players such as Brian Ritchie and Finn Graham, commented: “In the first half there was nothing really in the game.
“We started really well and played with real intent, but we didn’t get a goal.
“We were then hit with a sucker-punch before halftime, and then lost a second one right on the back of it.
“To go in two down was really undeserved and a headscratcher.
“We had a couple of great chances at the start of the second half as well, but the game was effectively ended with the penalty that they got.”
He added: “Any neutral who was there would say it wasn’t a 3-0 game, but you’ve got to give credit to the opposition. Hutchison Vale scored three goals, we didn’t score any and they’re away with the three points.
“I’m not too down about it.”
Newtongrange Star 2 Oakley United 2
East of Scotland League - First Division
PETER GOLDIE said he couldn’t fault his Oakley United side after a performance he felt was “the best I’ve seen from them this season” on Saturday.
After six successive defeats in all competitions, the Blairwood Park team picked up just their fourth point of their First Division campaign with a draw at fifth-placed Newtongrange Star.
Oakley, who had picked up one win from their opening six games, looked to be on their way to a second when goals from Scott Bruce and debutant Shay Brough put them two goals up inside 39 minutes.
Goldie’s men were forced into two substitutions before the start of the second half through injuries and Declan Henry pulled one back for Star.
And the home team earned a share of the spoils thanks to Dean Ballantyne’s strike early in the second half.
“I thought we played really well first half and could’ve been out of sight at halftime,” Goldie said.
“We scored two really good goals, with their keeper making another two unbelievable saves to keep us from extending the lead.
“They scored right on halftime, which took the wind out of our sails, and five minutes after half-time, which is a bit disappointing.
“However, I can’t fault the lads’ effort on Saturday. It’s the best I’ve seen from them this season. Hopefully we can build on Saturday’s performance and kick-on now.”
Preston Athletic 4 Rosyth 2
East of Scotland League - First Division
STEVIE CRAWFORD suffered his first defeat as Rosyth manager and lamented the concession of “three poor goals” from corners at Preston Athletic.
After beginning his tenure with wins over Oakley United and Kirkcaldy and Dysart, the recently-installed Rec boss saw his side lose out in East Lothian.
Mikey McFarlane put the hosts in front at Pennypit Park before Jay Murray headed home their second.
Jamie Devlin nodded in a third, reacting to Ano Subasic’s effort off the bar, before Jason Penman gave Rosyth a lifeline with a penalty just before the break.
Callum Strang pulled another back in the second half but, as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, Devlin scored his second late on to complete Preston’s win.
“We found ourselves 3-0 down due to poor marking at set plays, losing the first two goals from corners,” Crawford said.
“We managed to get ourselves back into the game when Jason Penman scored with a penalty just before half-time. We were more front foot in the second half, and got a goal midway through the second half with Callum Strang scoring while through one v one with the goalkeeper.
“With 10 minutes to go we changed shape to get a second striker on the park to try and force an equaliser. Unfortunately for us, we lost a fourth goal, conceding from yet another corner. On reflection we created more than enough chances to take at least a point from the game, but we never really gave ourselves a chance, conceding three poor goals from corners.
“It gives us something to work and focus on leading into the Leith Athletic game.”
Friday fixture: East of Scotland League, Premier Division - Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Luncarty (7.45pm). Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): Premier Division - Crossgates Primrose v Tynecastle. First Division - Oakley United v Arniston Rangers, Rosyth v Leith Athletic.
TAM O’WARE could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after his manager admitted that the injury he sustained on Saturday was “a bad one”.
The Kelty Hearts captain was stretchered off the field in the latter stages of their win over Queen of the South on Saturday, and was on crutches at the end of the match.
Centre back O’Ware, 30, had been an ever-present for the ‘Maroon Machine’ so far in League One this season, and had missed just one competitive match during the campaign, which was a Viaplay Cup group stage match at Ross County in July.
As the contest with the Doonhamers entered the final 15 minutes, O’Ware and defensive partner, Jason Thomson, moved to stop a cross from Harvey Walker finding their former team-mate, Kyle Doherty.
The Queens attacker couldn’t find the target but, in the aftermath, O’Ware fell to the ground in distress, and was taken off after a five-minute delay, which resulted in 12 minutes of time added on being played.
Left back Jamie Walker was also substituted earlier in the second half and, speaking after the match, Tidser said: “Tam, it looks like it’s a bit of a bad one, so we just need to assess that. Jamie’s feeling his knee ever so slightly so, again, we need to assess that, and see where we are next week.
“I spoke to you last week about strengthening the squad. That’s the important part about bringing players in and giving boys an opportunity. You’re always two minutes away from an injury or suspension. The lads need to be ready now.
“I thought the boys who came on did really well. The squad’s strong now; you can see we’ve got people that can come on and help the team. That’s the most important thing.”
O’Ware’s injury was the only real downside to a good afternoon for Kelty, who bounced back from their 5-1 home loss to Falkirk the previous week in fine style.
As well as finding the scoresheet himself, with their third goal, Tidser was delighted to see Reece Lyon net his first league goal for the club since arriving in the summer.
“I said to him during the week, ‘Reece, I need you to get into the box. I need you to go and score more goals’,” Tidser continued.
“’You’re 23 years of age, you don’t need to sit off the game, go and get on the end of things.’ He’s done that, so I’m really pleased.
“They’re a good side. They’re a full-time club, so we’ve got to take confidence from the win.
“CJ (Craig Johnston) was outstanding today again. His endeavour, work rate, attitude and enthusiasm - I love players with enthusiasm, and CJ’s got that in bundles. I’m really pleased with the lads.”
Next up for Kelty is a trip to an Edinburgh City side who sit bottom of the division with just two points from their opening eight League One games.
Alan Maybury’s team, who have drawn their previous two, against
Cove Rangers and Alloa Athletic, were unbeaten against Kelty in four league meetings, winning three of them, last term, and Tidser added: “Edinburgh are no fools.
“I know they’re struggling a wee bit just now. They’re picking up points but I’m sure they’d want to turn them into wins.
“We know, we’ve been down there before, that they’re a good side so we take nothing for granted.
“We respect them, but we go about our business and hopefully on the day we can win the game.”