2 weeks Ago
Crossgates Primrose boss Alan Campbell hailed a "good day all-round" for his team after they ended a four-game winless run against Edinburgh South. Second half goals from James McAteer and Harris Reid, both from Craig Henderson deliveries into the box, gave them all three points at Humbug Park, and a 13th win of the First Division season. "It was a good day all-round," Campbell said.
"It was another tight game In the first half there wasn't much in it and, if anything, they maybe shaded it. Neither team really created much. "In the second half, we had a 15-20 minute spell where we took over, got a couple of good crossed into the box, and had two good headers that we scored from.
"I was really pleased with how we did after that. I felt that it was a day where it would maybe take one goal or a mistake, because it was tight, but after the two goals went in, we stuck to our shape and didn't give them any glimpses. "It was a solid second half and credit to the players.
" Primrose are fifth in the table, two points behind Newtongrange Star, who occupy the third and final promotion place, and who have played two games fewer than Campbell's side, who are in cup action this Saturday. "Hopefully we can kick on in the last three games (of the league)," he added. "We hope to finish strongly.
We'll try and win our last three games and see what happens." Swifts moved closer to the First Division drop after going down to a fourth successive defeat at Blackburn United. Gary Sibbald's side, who performed well despite losing 4-2 at second-top Bo'ness Athletic last time out, fell behind just after the half-hour mark when Scott Richards netted for the hosts.
Danny Campbell doubled that advantage two minutes later, before Richards netted his second of the day with 10 minutes to go. Inverkeithing, however, handed starts for two 16-year-olds, Robbie Potter and Owen Wright, and gave debuts two a pair of 17-year-olds, in the shape of Fraser Stewart and Alfie Sim, as well as experienced 30-year-old goalkeeper, Jamie Bowman. With five games left to play, the remain bottom of the table with 13 points, 12 adrift of safety.
Oakley United's Second Division promotion hopes suffered a blow after what their boss described as a "very poor performance" against Bathgate Thistle. The Blairwood Park side lost ground with a defeat at Edinburgh College, who are one place above them, last weekend, and are now five points behind Bathgate, who are third and in the final promotion place, having played a game more. They found themselves two goals down inside 22 minutes, the second of which came from the penalty spot, and conceded a third just before the hour mark, with Jordan Devine scoring a brace, and Lennon Smith scoring the other.
"A very poor performance again and definitely not good enough at this stage of the season," said O's manager, Peter Goldie. "We've had a few big games with everything to play for in the last few weeks, and we don't turn up, and have let ourselves down. "Frustrated is an understatement as we have proven we can more than compete with better teams when we've wanted to this season.
There is no consistency in our performance which has been an issue all season. "We can't only turn up when we want to and the boys have bee told this. "Credit to Bathgate, they wanted it more than us all over the park, and we were well beaten from the first whistle.
"We need to pick ourselves up this week, roll the sleeves up for the last five games, and see where it leaves us.".
