Another exciting weekend in the GeoSonic Lowland League and we have new leaders in the form of Lowland League newbies Kelty Hearts. Things are just hotting up though and Ronan, Jordan, Martin and Craig are here to take us through it!
GRETNA 2008 1-3 KELTY HEARTS
Kelty Hearts climbed to the top of the table after a 3-1 away victory against Gretna 2008 on Saturday.
Man of the match Scott Dalziel opened the scoring for Kelty with a header after nine minutes before Willis Hare scored his first competitive goal for Thomas Courts’ men to double their lead with 17 minutes on the clock.
Things got from bad to worse for Gretna as Charlie Exley was shown a red card midway through the first half. However, the hosts got themselves back in the game seven minutes before half time when Liam Studholme halved the deficit. Kelty made sure of the points in the dying stages when Dalziel bagged his 71st goal for the club to ensure Thomas Courts side sit top of the league for the first time this season.
EAST KILBRIDE 2-0 EDUSPORT ACADEMY
In what was to be a good test for top of the table-chasing East Kilbride, it was Kilby who came out with a 2-0 victory at K-Park to move into second position – just goal difference behind Kelty Hearts – both sides sit on 20 points.
The favourites seemed to dominate the majority of the 90 minutes. They suffered from a goal being chopped off fifteen minutes in thanks to an extremely close offside call. East Kilbride got their goal twenty minutes later after a free-kick passing set piece led to an easy tap in for Craig Reid.
Edusport came out to the second half looking fresher than before and the game seemed to play out a little more balanced. This was meaningless, however as Sean Winter got in on the action on the 69th minute driving a low strike into the net.
WHITEHILL WELFARE 1-1 EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY
In the battle of the bottom five, this weekend, nothing could separate a Whitehill side hosting Edinburgh University.
The first half at Rosewell saw both teams fail to take their chances to go in front. Whitehill’s Fabio Neto had a few attempts but couldn’t find the net. There seemed to be good link up between Neto and Kevin Keane, and Keane repeatedly fired balls into the box that Neto just couldn’t get right.
There was an hour gone when Edinburgh Uni managed to break the deadlock. The Whitehill defence couldn’t clear an attempt and Aidan Kemp was there to capitalise. Welfare continued to press and were gifted a few minutes later when a cross from Scott Lucas found Neto who finally hit the back of the net.
An important point for both sides, however, three points could’ve made a drastic change to each team’s campaign.
BSC GLASGOW 2-2 CUMBERNAULD COLTS
A four goal thriller ensured that the visitors remained near the top end of the table. However, hosts BSC will have been pleased with a good performance against a strong, in-form side.
The hosts started well and they managed to take the lead 22 minutes in when Robbie Duncan’s misplaced shot landed right at Declan Hughes’ feet for him to blast home. The game remained this way until the 73rd minute.
BSC keeper Ross Sinclair was down after a challenge with a Colts player, however the away side played on and Greg Pascazio placed the ball into the net. The hosts did not let this get them down though and they quickly regained the lead a whole three minutes later – this time it was Joe Irvine scoring for the hosts after a poor defensive mix up from Colts allowed the substitute to nick in and lob Pettigrew.
BSC tried desperately to hold on but they failed as Colts equalised with only five minutes left through Craig Holmes. The Colts player smashed the ball right into the top corner from around the 30-yard mark to earn the away side a point which leaves them in third place whilst Stephen Swift’s men are fifth after having been awarded the 5-0 victory from their match against Whitehill Welfare in midweek.
CIVIL SERVICE STROLLERS 3-4 EAST STIRLINGSHIRE
East Stirlingshire will be absolutely delighted after edging a seven goal thriller against Civil Service Strollers on Saturday.
The hosts started well in the first 15 minutes missing a few good chances but it was the visitors who took the lead on 30 minutes through Ross Allum. The home side managed to equalise a few minutes before half time when Shaun Turnbull found himself unmarked from a corner and headed home.
Strollers were not prepared to sit back and go into the break on level terms though and they pushed forward and grabbed a goal right on the stroke of half time to put them 2-1 up going into the break.
The goals continued to come thick and fast as East Stirling grabbed a leveller 15 minutes after the break. However, within a minute the home side were back in front when Cammy Muirhead grabbed his second of the game from the penalty spot. Allum then rounded off a perfect hat trick to level the match.
The game looked as if it was going to end all square but there was more drama in the 91st minute. Shire’s Paul McCafferty played a ball across the box and it bounced off the head of a Civil defender and won the game for the visitors. The 91 fans in attendance certainly got value for their money in this one that leaves East Stirling only two points off Civil in the table.
GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS 3-1 SPARTANS
Spartans slipped down to fourth in the Scottish Lowland League after suffering their first league defeat of the season away at Gala Fairydean Rovers.
The visitors took the lead a couple of minutes before half-time when Jamie Dishington scored from inside the penalty box.
The hosts levelled seven minutes into the second half when Sean McKirdy converted from a quick corner kick routine.
Gala took the lead six minutes later as Ruari Paton found the back of the net and the same man was unlucky not to get a third minutes but was denied by the Spartans goalkeeper.
Spartans thought they had equalised but Jack Smith’s strike was ruled out for offside as they searched for a leveller.
The three points was secured for Gala in the 89th minute as Tommy Patterson scored a free kick from 20 yards out.
The win was Gala’s fourth of the season as they move up to ninth in the table while Spartans unbeaten run comes to an end.
VALE OF LEITHEN 3-0 DALBEATTIE STAR
Vale of Leithen moved up to sixth place in the Scottish Lowland League after a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Dalbeattie Star.
Two first half goals did the trick at Victoria Park. Sean Stewart opened the scoring for Vale of Leithen as the home side looked to end their poor run of form.
The lead was doubled for Vale by Brad Rixon to give the hosts a two goal lead at half-time.
The points were wrapped up with twelve minutes to go as Stewart got his second and Vale of Leithen’s third of the game.
The home side now sit six points off the top of the table while Dalbeattie Star sit fourteenth and only four points above the Whitehill Welfare.
