Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts: Hill of Beath win Fife derby

SWIFTS boss Jason McCrindle credited derby opponents Hill of Beath Hawthorn for a "deserved" victory but felt his team fell below the standards they've set.

The Haws claimed a second successive win as the hosts, who won at Tynecastle in impressive fashion seven days prior, lost for just the second time under McCrindle's charge.

Jordan Tosh gave the visitors the lead before winning his side a penalty, which Stuart Love hit the bar with, after which Dan Baur received a red card for Hill of Beath before the break.

Dan Baur is red carded for the Haws. (Image: David Wardle.)

Tosh, however, doubled their advantage just after the hour mark, which Calum Adamson added to, with Luke Mahady scoring Swifts' consolation with three minutes to go.

"I just think fair play and credit to Hill of Beath," McCrindle said.

"To be honest, they were better than us on the day. We just didn't reach the levels that we got to the week before, so it's just a case of what we didn't do at the weekend. We had lots of the ball and things like that, but we just didn't really have any cutting edge.

"I just felt we were nice and pretty without any real conviction. It was just a wee bit disappointing, given how well we'd done the week before."

"They're a young squad and I think, previously, results have been up and down before I came here. I just didn't see it coming if I'm honest, given how well they played the week before.

"We need to get into training this week and get them back to how we were the previous week. It's just about trying to maintain the standards and the levels, and then get a bit of consistency in the performance.

"On Saturday we were just nice and pretty in possession. We just didn't really have any killer instinct or any real conviction. We scored a really good goal, but lost three really poor goals from our perspective.

The Swifts boss felt his team's opponents deserved their win. (Image: David Wardle.)

"I just felt like we dropped below the levels that we'd reached before, and it was just a wee bit disappointing, the result, if I'm honest."

"Credit to Hill of Beath. They were better, they deserved the victory, but from our perspective, if we fall bellow the standards we've set, and fall below the level of performance we've set, a result will be like Saturday."

Crossgates Primrose 1 Broxburn Athletic 4, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

ALAN CAMPBELL said that he was "probably as happy as I've been at a 4-1 score" and took positives despite Primrose's defeat.

His side continue to hover just above the relegation zone after league leaders Broxburn Athletic made it 15 wins from 18 matches they've played this season, but the Humbug Park boss felt there were encouraging signs for his players to take away.

Crossgates, who are now 10 matches without a win, opened the scoring through Craig Reid midway through the first half, but Calum Heath equalised minutes before half time.

Former Kelty Hearts forward, Errol Douglas, turned the match on its head four minutes into the second half and added his second of the day in the 71st minute with a penalty that was disputed by the hosts, before Gary Brass sealed the points for Broxburn a couple of minutes later.

Errol Douglas slots home a spot-kick for Broxburn. (Image: David Wardle.)

"It's probably as happy as I've been at a 4-1 score. The first half was probably as good as we've played all season," Campbell commented.

"We more than matched the team that's top of the league. We played a lot of good stuff, got a goal ahead, and should have been two ahead - we had a couple of chances and flurries around their box.

"If we'd managed to get that second goal, I felt it would've given us a confidence boost going into half time, but we lost a goal before half time and the game swayed.

Alan Campbell felt his team could take positives despite the defeat. (Image: David Wardle.)

"I was aware we'd gas out as we hadn't played for five weeks, and Broxburn have been playing, and to be fair to them, you could see their hunger and desire as they're trying to win a league. In the second half, I thought they dealt with the conditions a wee bit better.

"We'll be better for having that 90 minutes. We had guys who have not played for a while, young Lyle (Kellichan) making his debut, so there were positives in it."

Blackburn United 0 Rosyth 1, East of Scotland League, First Division

ROSYTH bounced back from their derby defeat to Kirkcaldy and Dysart with a well-earned win at Blackburn United.

Stevie Crawford's men travelled across the Forth to West Lothian looking to return to winning ways following their 2-0 loss last time out, and a goal in the opening half ensured that they did so.

Callum Strang's well-placed shot, from Aidan McAvoy's cross, in the first half gave the West Fifers the lead, which they preserved from there on to register a ninth win from 19 league matches.

Rosyth are sixth in the First Division table, six points behind third-placed Camelon Juniors, having played three matches more.

Meanwhile, Oakley United's King Cup, first round tie at home to Hawick Royal Albert was postponed.

Saturday's fixtures: East of Scotland League, Premier Division - Crossgates Primrose v Musselburgh Athletic (2pm), Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Dundonald Bluebell (2pm). First Division - Oakley United v Newtongrange Star (2pm), Rosyth v Preston Athletic (2.30pm).