SOUTH & EAST FIXTURES
WEDNESDAY March 10
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round (ko7.30pm)
Annan Athletic v Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Fleet Star
Threave Rovers v Creetown
King Cup Round 2 (ko7pm)
Spartans v Lothian Thistle
EAST Central Taxis Division 1 (ko7.30pm)
Gala Fairydean v Gretna 2008
SATURDAY March 13 (ko3pm)
POTTS CUP FINAL
St Cuthbert Wand v Stranraer
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round
Abbey Vale v Wigtown
Dalbeattie Star v Threave Rovers
Heston Rovers v Creetown
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Mid Annandale v Crichton
SFA CHALLENGE CUP South (ko2.30pm)
Whitehill Welfare v Newton Stewart
EAST Central Taxis East Premier League (ko2.30pm)
Civil Service Str v Lothian Thistle
Heriot-Watt Uni v Tynecastle
Spartans v Preston Athletic
EAST Central Taxis Division 1
Craigroyston v Vale of Leithen
Hawick R A v Easthouses Lily
Leith Athletic v Gala Fairydean
Ormiston v Gretna 2008
Peebles v Eyemouth United
Stirling Uni v Kelso United
WEDNESDAY March 17 (ko7.30pm)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Threave Rovers v Dalbeattie Star
Stranraer v St Cuthbert Wanderers
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
SFA Challenge Cup Quarter final
Crichton 0 Spartans 7
Gretna 2 Lothian Thistle 0
Stirling Uni 2 Dalbeattie Star 0
Whitehill Welfare P-P Newton Stewart
Haig Gordon Cup 1st Round
Stranraer 5 Heston Rovers 4
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Abbey Vale 0 Threave Rovers 5
Mid Annandale 1 Creetown 2
Fleet Star 1 St Cuthbert Wanderers 5
Wigtown 1 Nithsdale Wanderers 1
EAST PREMIER LEAGUE
Civil Service 3 Preston Athletic 2
Edinburgh City 6 Coldstream 0
Heriot-Watt Uni 3 Selkirk 2
Tynecastle 0 Edinburgh Uni 0
EAST DIVISION 1
Kelso 1 Eyemouth United 1
Leith 10 Hawick RA 0
Ormiston 0 Gala Fairydean 3
Peebles 2 Craigroyston 3
Vale of Leithen 3 Easthouses 1
Kelso 1 Eyemouth United 1
Leith 10 Hawick RA 0
Ormiston 0 Gala Fairydean 3
Peebles 2 Craigroyston 3
Vale of Leithen 3 Easthouses 1
SPARTANS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
SPARTANS co-manager Mike Lawson was in seventh heaven after his side reached the semi-finals of the SFA Challenge Cup.
They thrashed South side Crichton 7-0 as they bid to retain the trophy.
Lawson praised stand-in keeper Danny O'Donnell who took over after 10 minutes when Craig McGarrie was injured and had to go off.
A delighted Lawson said: "This was a journey into the unknown for we didn’t know the opposition.
"We also had keeper Chris Flockhart unavailable so Craig started his first game in the quarter final of our biggest domestic cup.
"But 10 minutes in and Craig who had already been called into action several times bravely dived at the feet of an onrushing forward and received a cut to his eye which saw him heading straight to the A& E at Dumfries."
He added: "Danny donned the gloves and the rest of the team didn’t bat an eyelid going about their business in a professional manner.
"It was a great performance, a great result and mission very much accomplished. Crichton were game but they caught us on a good day."
Keith Mcleod fired Spartans ahead and two Gavin Malin goals made it 3-0 at half time..Malin completed his hat trick after the turn and . Kevin Sivewright then scored his first of his Spartans career before two Jorge Vinneli goals completed the scoring.
GRETNA pulled off the shockof the day with a 2-0 win over East Premier side Lothian Thistle with Tony Nicholson hitting two first half goals.
Manager Stuart Rome said: "This was a tremendous performance and we're all delighted."
He also praised keeper Alex Mitchell who brought off a series of great saves and stopped a penalty from Thistle's Daniel McAleavy.
STIRLING Uni also reached the semi stage with a 2-0 win over South League leaders Dalbeattie Star.
Norwegian Jacob Arnold-Smith opened for them in 35 minutes and Lee Nicol scored the second from 10 yards eight minutes from time.
The other tie between Whitehill Welfare and Newton Stewart was hit by the weather and goes ahead next week.
In East Division 1, CRAIGROYSTON took over top spot with a 3-2 win over Peebles and Vale of Leithen kept their unbeaten record with a 3 – 1 win over Easthouses Lily.
ROVERS TOP SOUTH LEAGUE
THREAVE ROVERS coasted to a 5-0 win over Abbey Vale to go top of the South of Scotland League. The champions ended up playing a Vale side with only nine players after Fraser Sneddon was red-carded after half an hour and Alan Clark later. It was Paul Cook that shattered the home side with a first half hat-trick rattling in the first in 19 minutes, then heading a second in 38 minutes and the third just before the turn. Vale held out until the last seven minutes when Sam Warren and Danny Dunglinson snatched two more.
WIGTOWN'S hopes of the title vanished with a 1-1 draw against a fighting Nithsdale Wanderers side but St CUTHBERT WANDERERS are still in contention after a 5-1 win over Fleet Star who held their own until the hour mark. Paul McClymont put Saints ahead a minute before the interval but four minutes after the turn Andy Gilston equalised when he finished off a corner. But Craig Rudd hit a hat-trick in 20 minutes with Gary Redpath heading the other for a convincing win.
CREETOWN brought off a shock 2-1 win over Mid Annandale after going down to a 12th minute Grant Wilson goal. Innes Tait levelled in 20 minutes and Mids were reduced to 10 men when Greg McCulloch went off five minute before the interval for two yellows. Then Scott Mazza tapped in the winner on the hour mark.
In the Haig Gordon Cup Stranraer moved into the second round with a 5-4 win thanks to a stoppage time winner.
MIDWEEK ROUNDUP SOUTH & EAST
RESULTS:
TUESDAY March 2
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
St Cuthbert Wanderers 4 Newton Stewart 1
Stranraer 2 Dalbeattie Star 6
Threave Rovers 3 Wigtown 1
EAST of SCOTLAND
EAST PREMIER League
Heriot-Watt P-P Edinburgh City
Preston Athletic 1 Civil Service Str 2
EAST Division 1
Gala Fairydean 1 Leith Athletic 5
Gretna 2 - 0 Vale of Leithen (Abandoned when lights failed.)
STAR HIT STRANRAER FOR SIX
DALBEATTIE Star stay top of the South of Scotland League after beating Stranraer 6-2 at Stair Park on Tuesday night helped by a hat-trick from Scott Milligan, two goals from Grant Parker and one from Rab Harkness.
Stranraer made a fight of for just over half of the match and fought back from losing two goals in the first half hour. Parker got the first in 15 minutes when he rounded the keeper and slotted home and then Rab Harkness finished off a three-man move with a six yarder. Just before the interval Craig Bradley headed Stranraer back into the game and five minutes on the other side of the turn Derek Dougan shot home from close in.
But after this it was easy for Star with Milligan restoring Star's lead with a close range shot and he made the running in 70 minutes before crossing to Parker who shot low into the net. Milligan hit two more in the 76th and 78th minutes to complete the rout.
Champions THREAVE ROVERS kept up their challenge with a 3-1 win over Wigtown which dented the Trammondford Park side's title hopes. But they had to fight back after Alan Murdoch opened for Wigtown in the 11th minute. But Threave went straight up field and Paul Cook equalised. Then Scot Wilby headed Rovers into the lead in the 38th minute and fired a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net to seal the points after 67 minutes.
St Cuthbert Wanderers are also still in the title hunt with a 4-1 win over Newton Stewart at St Mary's Park. A Gary King free kick put Saints into the lead in the 24th minute and Gary Redpath made it 2-0 seven minutes later. On the hour mark Gary Smith pulled Newton back into the game but Redpath got his second goal with a tap in after 75 minutes and in the last minute Jamie Clark made it 4-1.
In East of Scotland Division 1 Gretna were leading Vale of 2-0 when the lights failed at Raydale and the game was abandoned. In the other Division 1 match Leith Athletic hammered Gala Fairydean 5-1 and in the Premier League Preston Athletic went down 2-1 to Civil Service Strollers.
RESULTS:
WEDNESDAY March 3
CENTRAL TAXIS Premier League
Lothian Thistle P-P Whitehill Welfare
Spartans 1 Edinburgh Uni 0
FIXTURES
SATURDAY March 6
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP Quarter finals (ko2.30pm)
Crichton v Spartans
Gretna 2008 v Lothian Thistle
Stirling Uni v Dalbeattie Star
Whitehill Welfare P-P Newton Stewart
CRICHTON FACE SPARTAN TASK
CRICHTON boss Jim Thomson has told his side to put last week's cup defeat behind them.
For they face their toughest task of the season, a quarter final SFA Challenge cup tie against holders Spartans, the current East Premier League leaders.
"It's probably the toughest fixture we could get other than going up to Ainslie Park," said Thomson
He added: "They're obviously a good side but we're not going to be frightened by them. I'm quite sure the lads will be happy to go in there and compete with them.
"I can't think of a better game to bounce back from our cup defeat by Stranraer last week."
Spartans co-manager Mike Lawson said: "The weather stopped us from watching them but we know we will be in a game with them.
"This is third game in seven days and we have the same next week. We're still in three cups and want to progress in as many as we can."
This round is on an East v South basis and in the other games Dalbeattie Star travel to Stirling Uni with new signing Steven Watt, the former Jeanfield Swifts central defender.
Whitehill Welfare were due take on struggling Newton Stewart at Ferguson Park but the weather has again forced the cancellation of Welfare's match.
Gretna 2008 are at home to high-flying Lothian Thistle.
In the South of Scotland League Threave Rovers can go top if they beat Abbey Vale.
In East Division 1 Craigroyston can extend their one points league if they can beat Peebles.
Haig Gordon Cup 1st Round (ko3pm)
Stranraer V Heston Rovers (at Norfolk Park)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko3pm)
Abbey Vale v Threave Rovers
Mid Annandae v Creetown
Fleet Star v St Cuthbert Wanderers
Wigtown v Nithsdale Wanderers
CENTRAL TAXIS Premier League (ko2.30pm)
Civil Service Str v Preston Athletic
Edinburgh City v Coldstream
Heriot-Watt Uni v Selkirk
Tynecastle v Edinburgh Uni
CENTRAL TAXIS Division 1(ko2.30pm)
Kelso United v Eyemouth United
Leith Athletic v Hawick RA
Ormiston v Gala Fairydean
Peebles v Craigroyston
Vale of Leithen v Easthouses Lily
WEDNESDAY March 10
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round (ko7.30pm)
Annan Athletic v Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Fleet Star
Threave Rovers v Creetown
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
RESULTS: SATURDAY February 27
SOUTH REGION Challenge Cup
Newton Stewart 4 Heston Rovers 2
POTTS CUP semi-final
Crichton 1 Stranraer 3 (AET)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Fleet Star 1 Dalbeattie Star 2
St Cuthbert Wanderers 5 Nithsdale Wanderers 1
Threave Rovers 6 Mid Annandale 0
Wigtown 5 Abbey Vale 0
EAST of SCOTLAND
King Cup Round 2
Spartans P-P Lothian Thistle
Preston Athletic P-P Hawick R A
Tynecastle P-P Leith Athletic
Peebles P-P Heriot-Watt Uni -
Coldstream P-P Stirling Uni
Edinburgh City P-P Gretna 2008
Central Taxis Premier League
Whitehill Welfare P-P Selkirk
Central Taxis Division 1
Craigroyston P-P Easthouses Lily
Eyemouth United P-P Vale of Leithen
Kelso United P-P Gala Fairydean
SOUTH/EAST ROUNDUP
DALBEATTIE STAR kept up their title challenge but they had to fight all the way to beat a gallant Fleet Star 2-1 in the South League.
Fleet dominated the first half and shocked the leaders when Barry Pickthall headed home in the 44th minute. Star had a better second half but it was the 65th minute before top scorer Scott Milligan fired in the equaliser from 20 yards and a trialist got the winner when he scored from corner.
THREAVE ROVERS thrashed Mid Annandale 6-0 as they fight to retain their title and coasted to victory at Meadow Park. They got the ideal start with three goals in the first half from James Baty, Darren Kerr and Jamie Struthers. Andrew Donnelly fired in number four after 49 minutes and then Sam Warren hit the fifth from inside the box after 70 minutes and Donnelly headed his second five minutes from time.
STRANRAER boss Alan Hannah praised his side for rising to the occasion and reaching their second cup final of the season.
The Stair Park side have already won the League Cup and beat Crichton 3-1 in extra time to go through to the Potts Cup final.
They will meet St Cuthbert Wanderers in two weeks after a nail-biting wait.
Hannah had a special word for keeper Gary Lightbody who saved a Roman Soltys penalty 10 minutes from time with the score sitting at 1-1.
"That could have been curtains for us but Gary brought off a great save, although you have to say that's what he's there for."
The game had been called of three times because of the weather but Hannah said: "It was a great result for us but it took extra time.
"We've had so many postponements in recent weeks that I wondered if the lads could stand extra time without a lot of match practice."
He added: "It was a hard-fought game and we got our winners in the last five minutes of extra time."
A disappointed Crichton assistant, Michael Possee said: "It was a game of few chances. We missed the penalty and I think it probably cost us the game.
"You can't afford to miss a spot kick."
Crichton took the lead with an Andy Morrison goal when he followed up a Soltys shot to slot home in 70 minutes.
But two minutes later Chris Doyle, who was red-carded later for two yellows, hit the equaliser.
Then in extra time Richard Jones got the break after 115 minutes when the home defence was caught in possession and two minutes from time, Derek Dougan sealed the match when he went one-on-one with the keeper to score.
Stranraer take on Heston Rovers on Saturday at Stair Park inthe South League and then over the coming weeks will be playing a number of midweek fixtures to try and catch up on the backlog of games.
It's a big day for Newton Stewart when they travel to the outskirts of the Capital to take on Whitehill Welfare in the quarter finals of the South Regional Challenge Cup. It will be one of the toughest games of the season for the Blairmount side park but secretary John McNaught said: "We saw them against Wigtown earlier in the season and we'll be going there looking for a result although it will be a hard game. They haven't played a lot because of the weather and have only had eight league games."
They clinched their place in the quarter finals with a 4-2 win over Heston Rovers on Saturday at Blairmount Park. Gary Smith put Newton ahead after 27 inutes with a 25-yard volley and Stewart Taylor increased the lead 11 minutes later when he rounded the keeper. Fraser McGhie pulled one back for Heston int he 42nd minute but Taylor finished of a penalty in 62 minutes and the fourth came five minutes later from Sean Taylor. In the 76th minute Heston pulled another back through Grand Learmonth who scored with a 20 yard free kick.
The other Challenge Cup matches - the trophy has taken over from the old Scottish Qualifying Cup - are Crichton v Spartans; Gretna 2008 v Lothian Thistle; and Stirling Uni v Dalbeattie Star.
Next Wednesday Newton are away to Annan Athletic in the South League while Creetown, who were without a game on Saturday face a trip to Castle Douglas to play champions Threave Rovers. On Saturday Creetown are away again to Mid Annandale.
The other South league matches on Saturday Abbey Vale v Threave Rovers and Fleet Star v St Cuthbert Wanderers while on Wednesday night the 1st round of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup has Annan at home to Newton; St Cuthberts entertaining Fleet Star and Threave against Creetown.
WIGTOWN kept their title options open with a 5-0 win over Abbey Vale with all the goals coming in the first hour of the game. It was another good win for the Trammondford Park side and moves them up to third spot in the league. Wigtown allowed Vale to hold their own after their initial burst and the visitors had several chances although there was never any danger.
It was Ross McCrindle who put them on the victory trail when he headed the opener in nine minutes and Robert Jamieson volleyed the second in 25 minutes. They went on to hit two more in the first four minutes of the second half through Alan Clark (OG) and George Wilson with Jamieson making it five in the 56th minute. This Saturday Wigtown are at home again, this time to struggling Nithsdale Wanderers who are languishing at the foot of the table.
St CUTHBERT WANDERERS were also in scoring form and beat struggling Nithsdale Wanderers 5-1. Gary Redpath was their hero with a hat-trick which started with a 12th minute shot. Paul McClymont got the second when he rounded the keeper in 31 minutes but Billy Connolly crashed the ball into the top corner for Wanderers in the 40th minute. But Saints controlled the second half with Redpath scoring twice in 67 and 75 minutes with Craig Rudd getting one in between.
The complete East of Scotland programme was postponed because of the weather which hit the East Coast.
@
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
GRETNA 2008 face two of their biggest games of the season so far within the space of three days.
This afternoon (SAT) they take on East Premier League side Edinburgh City in the 2nd round of the King Cup and Vale of Leithen on Tuesday night in a 'must win' Division 1 promotion battle.
Manager Stuart Rome said they were taking each game as it comes but the Vale match is a massive if they are to keep in the promotion race.
Gretna currently sit in third spot, one in front of Vale with sides on 29 points. But the Innerleithen team have three games in hand.
"We have to into this match against Vale in a positive frame of mind but they are a strong side and unbeaten in the league so far this season.
"As far as we are concerned it is a must-win game for us. I think we have turned the corner and we are capable of beating them," said the manager.
He added: "If Vale win their games in hand and beat us they will be 12 points ahead and it could be curtains for our promotion hopes.
Gretna will be without defender Ross Johnston for the Edinburgh match but apart from him, the manager has a full squad.
Rome said: "We beat City decisively in the Image Printers Cup but this time it's at Meadowbank and it will be our first visit there.
"It will be good for the lads to see what the facilities are like for some of the Premier League sides. It's an important game and another one we want to win."
In the Premier League Whitehill Welfare can start their huge catch-up run with a home game against strugglers Selkirk.
The big game in the South of Scotland is at Hospital Park Dumfries where Crichton take on Stranraer for a place in the final of the Potts Cup.
WEDNESDAY February 24
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko7.30pm)
Stranraer P-P Threave Rovers
St Cuthbert Wanderers P-P Crichton
WEATHER STRIKES AGAIN
The two South of Scotland League matches scheduled for tonight have been called off after overnight snow and the continuing frozen pitches.
Stranraer were due to play champions Threave Rovers at Stair Park and St Cuthbert Wanderers were down to play Crichton at St Mary’s Park, Kirkcudbright.
The midweek matches were scheduled to try and help relieve the fixture backlog which has now seen 81 games called off because of the weather so far this season.
SATURDAY February 27 (ko2pm unless stated)
SOUTH REGION Challenge Cup
Newton Stewart 4 Heston Rovers 2
POTTS CUP semi-final
Crichton 1 Stranraer 3 (AET)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Fleet Star 1 Dalbeattie Star 2
St Cuthbert Wanderers 5 Nithsdale Wanderers 1
Threave Rovers 6 Mid Annandale 0
Wigtown 5 Abbey Vale 0
EAST of SCOTLAND
King Cup Round 2
Spartans P-P Lothian Thistle
Preston Athletic P-P Hawick R A
Tynecastle P-P Leith Athletic
Peebles P-P Heriot-Watt Uni -
Coldstream P-P Stirling Uni
Edinburgh City P-P Gretna 2008
Central Taxis Premier League
Whitehill Welfare P-P Selkirk
Central Taxis Division 1
Craigroyston P-P Easthouses Lily
Eyemouth United P-P Vale of Leithen
Kelso United P-P Gala Fairydean
TUESDAY March 2
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko7.30pm)
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Newton Stewart
Stranraer v Dalbeattie Star (7.45pm
Threave Rovers v Wigtown
NEWTON PAY UP
NEWTON Stewart who were fined a total of £150 for failing to attend three South meetings have had an appeal thrown out by the Scottish Football Association.
The South of Scotland side failed to have a representative at a meeting last year of the Southern Counties, South of Scotland League and the Wigtownshire Assocation.
The fine was imposed by the South under their rules which state that clubs not attending scheduled meetings will be fined £50 per meeting.
At a South meeting at Dalbeattie last week officials said the fine had now been paid.
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
SUNDAY 21st February
IMAGE PRINTERS CUP FINAL
Vale of Leithen P-P Gretna 2008
(Albert Park, Hawick)
The Image Printers Cup Final will now be played on Sunday March 28, 2010, following the postponement on Saturday.
RESULTS:
SATURDAY February 20, 2010
TWEEDIE Cup Final
Crichton P-P Threave Rovers
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Abbey Vale 5 Heston Rovers 2
Dalbeattie Star P-P Wigtown
Mid Annandale 3 Nithsdale Wanderers 1
Fleet Star P-P Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers P-P Creetown
EAST of SCOTLAND
CENTRAL TAXIS PREMIER LEAGUE
Civil Service Strollers 2 Tynecastle 2
Edinburgh Uni 0 Whitehill Welfare 1
Heriot-Watt Univ 5 Preston Athletic 1
Lothian Thistle 2 Edinburgh City 1
Spartans 7 Selkirk 0
CENTRAL TAXIS Division 1
Craigroyston 2 Eyemouth United 1
Easthouses Lily 5 Hawick RA 0
Kelso United P-P Leith Athletic
Peebles P-P Ormiston
Stirling Uni 6 Gala Fairydean 0
CUP SEMI AT HOSPITAL PARK
STRANRAER have two big games in front of them with a vital cup semi-final tie and top of the table tussle against leaders Dalbeattie Star.
Their match against champions Threave Rovers was called off on Wednesday because of the weather.
The toll of cancelled matches rose to 79 on Saturday with only two of the matches beating the severe frost which has hit the region over the last few weeks.
On Saturday Stranraer head for Hospital Park at Dumfries to try and play the four times cancelled Potts Cup semi-final tie against Crichton.
Then on Tuesday night Dalbeattie Star should be the visitors to Stair Park.
Meanwhile Newton Stewart have a vital SFA Challenge Cup tie against Heston Rovers but the match has already been called off a number of times. The winners of this match will be into the quarter finals of the competition which replaced the Scottish Qualifying Cup. But the winners face a daunting task with a trip to Ferguson Park and a match away to crack East of Scotland side Whitehill Welfare.
Newton are due to be in action on Tuesday night against St Cuthbert Wanderers under the lights at Kirkcudbright and also the same night Wigtown travel to Castle Douglas to play champions Threave and another vital tie.
The Trammondford Park side need a win on Saturday and Tuesday to keep up their title surge which has seen them rise to fourth in the table and still in contention for the championship.
Creetown are without a game this weekend and on Saturday they travelled over to Kirkcudbright for their match only to see the referee postpone the match at the 11th hour.
Saturday's two matches produced a total 11 goals and wins for Abbey Vale and Mid Annandale.
ABBEY HIT HESTON FOR FIVE
ABBEY VALE'S interim management team headed by George Cloy, the ex-Queen of the South star, made it two wins out of two and nine goals scored as the beat Heston Rovers 5-2 at New Abbey.
Vale went three up in the first half hour with Stewart Cameron shooting home the first from close in after a corner in 10 minutes and then Alan Clarke headed a Fraser Sneddon corner into the net eight minutes later. Ian Quinn beat two Rovers defenders before firing home the third but just on the interval Jonathan Boyd opened up the home defence before shooting into the net.
Abbey's trialist striker made it 4-1 only seven minutes into the second half when he crashed the ball into the net but Boyd got a second for Heston in 72 minutes. Then the trialist completed the scoring when he accepted a Chris Mellon through ball and beat the Heston keeper.
MID ANNANDALE made it three wins in a row with a 3-1 win over Nithsdale Wanderers who had two players red-carded and gave away three penalties.
Darren Notman was pulled down in the 40th minute by Nithsdale's Michael McRobert who was red carded but Jamie Robson's penalty was saved. Then five minutes later Notman was fouled again but Sean Bell made no mistake from the spot to put Mids ahead. Gary Crosbie was red-carded shortly after for a bad tackle and Nithsdale were down to nine men.
In the 65th minute Mids went two up when they got their third spot kick after a hand ball in the box. Sean Bell hammered it ome and then completed his hat-trick five minutes from time when he finished off a corner on the left from Robson. Nithsdale got a consolation goal in the 88th minute when Colin Bell sent in a great 25 yarder passed the unsighted Mids keeper.
ONLY two matches beat the weather in the South of Scotland and it brings the tally of games called off this season to 79. One of the games hit was the Tweedie Cup final between Crichton and Threave Rovers which will now be re-scheduled.
IMAGE FINAL CANCELLED
IT should have been a big day for Division 1 championship contenders Gretna 2008 and Vale of Leithen but the final of the Image Printers Cup at Albert Park, Hawick has been called off because of the weather.
Albert Park at Hawick is frostbound and the East of Scotland officials have called off the match.
It will now be played later in the season.
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
RESULTS:
SATURDAY February 20, 2010
TWEEDIE Cup Final
Crichton P-P Threave Rovers
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Abbey Vale 5 Heston Rovers 2
Dalbeattie Star P-P Wigtown
Mid Annandale 3 Nithsdale Wanderers 1
Fleet Star P-P Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers P-P Creetown
WEDNESDAY February 24
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko7.30pm)
Stranraer v Threave Rovers
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Crichton
EAST of SCOTLAND (ko2.30pm)
CENTRAL TAXIS PREMIER LEAGUE
Civil Service Strollers v Tynecastle
Edinburgh Uni v Whitehill Welfare
Heriot-Watt Univ v Preston Athletic
Lothian Thistle v Edinburgh City
Spartans v Selkirk
CENTRAL TAXIS Division 1
Craigroyston v Eyemouth United
Easthouses Lily v Hawick RA
Kelso United P-P Leith Athletic
Peebles P-P Ormiston
Stirling Uni v Gala Fairydean
SUNDAY 21st February
IMAGE PRINTERS CUP FINAL (ko2pm)
Vale of Leithen v Gretna 2008
(Albert Park, Hawick)
NEW BOSSES AT VALE
EX-Queen of the South star George Cloy is one of the interim management team who have taken over at South of Scotland side Abbey Vale.
Vale were left managerless after Dave (Speedy) Clark resigned for personal reasons.
Cloy, Paul Wells and Keith Stenton have take over charge of team affairs at the New Abbey-based side until a successor is found.
A club spokesman said: "Speedy has made a big contribution to the club since joining us in November 2007.
"Under his guidance the club has improved its league position each sason."
SATURDAY February 13
RESULTS: Saturday February 13
SOUTH of SCOTLAND
SOUTH REGION Cup 3rd Round
Newton Stewart P-P Heston Rovers
POTTS CUP semi-final
Crichton P-P Stranraer
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Mid Annandale P-P Wigtown
Nithsdale Wanderers 1 Abbey Vale 4
St Cuthbert Wanderers P-P Dalbeattie Star
Threave Rovers 2 Fleet Star 2
EAST of SCOTLAND
KING CUP 1st Round
Selkirk 2 Stirling Uni 3
Preston Athletic 1 Edinburgh Uni 0 (AET)
Leith Athletic 3 Civil Service Str 1
Lothian Thistle 2 Craigroyston 0
Kelso United 1 Gretna 2008 2
Ormiston 0 Heriot-Watt Uni 0
(Heriot won 5-3 on penalties)
2nd Round
Eyemouth United 3 Whitehill Welfare 4 (AET)
Easthouses Lily 1 Vale of Leithen 1
(Vale won 5-4 on penalties)
CENTRAL TAXIS Premier League
Coldstream 2 Edinburgh City 7
Tynecastle 1 Spartans 2
CENTRAL TAXIS Division 1
Gala Fairydean 3 Hawick R A 0
SPARTANS EIGHT POINTS CLEAR
SPARTANS raced eight points clear at the top of the East Premier League with a 2-1 win over Tynecastle.
It was revenge for an earlier league defeat by Tynecastle but co-manager Mike Lawson has warned his squad that the title is not theirs yet.
He said: "That was a huge three points for us and with five games left many would say it's enough.
"But we were caught a few years ago by Annan after we had been sitting there for four weeks."
He added: "We can still be caught and Whitehill have eight games in hand. If they win they go five points clear of us,
"We've just got to post our scores and hope no one can catch us."
Lawson also praised a fighting Tynecastle side who held out until five minutes into the second half when Keith McLeod's cross was nodded home by Robbie Manson.
McLeod tucked home the second in 65 minutes and shortly after Omar Kader struck the post.
Tynecastle pulled one back four minutes into stoppage time through John Mearns.
Edinburgh City returned to top form with a 7-2 thrashing of Coldstream while in the King Cup there were wins for Gretna 2008, Stirling Uni, Preston Athletic, Leith, Lothian, and Heriot-Watt.
SURPRISE POINT FOR STAR
SOUTH league champions Threave Rovers slipped up in their battle to retain the title as they were held to a shock 2-2 draw by bottom of the table Fleet Star.
The basement side thoroughly deserved their point which lifts them off the bottom of the table. They were two goals up at the interval with Jordan Tait heading home the opener in the 21st minute and Andy Gilston shooting home the second seven minutes late.
Star had to defend desperately in the second half after Danny Dunglinson pulled one back in the 61st minute and they had a narrow escape when James Baty was brought down in the box but the whistler gave a foul against him. It was three minutes before the end that Threave levelled things with Andrew Donnelly shooting home the equaliser.
The overnight frost continued to play havoc with the fixtures and the only other game was at Sanquahr where managerless ABBEY VALE ran out 4-1 winners over Nithsdale Wanderers with Ian Quinn hitting a hat-trick.
Vale's interim management team of George Cloy, Paul Wells and Keith Stenton turned things round from last week's 6-1 drubbing and the resignation of manager Dave Clark. They were two up at the turn with goals from Quinn in the 14th minute and an own goal five minutes later when a Paul Neil cross was deflected into the net by Craig Turnbull. Then Quinn put them three up in the 65th minute before Colin Bell pulled one back for the home side with the Vale striking going on to make it four.
STRANRAER face another blank Saturday after frost wiped out their Potts Cup semi-final tie against Crichton at Hospital Park, Dumfries, on Saturday.
For they are the odd team out this weekend but have a vital South of Scotland League match next Wednesday night.
The sharp overnight frost after rain played havoc with the South fixtures on Saturday and only two matches went ahead, at Castle Douglas and Sanquhar.
It was a big blow for the Stair Park side after their cup triumph last week and manager Alan Hannah was hoping to keep up the momentum. Now he will have to get them ready for Wednesday night's league game against Threave Rovers.
The match was called off in the morning after a ground inspection. Crichton manager Jim Thomson said: "With the travelling distance we couldn't wait too long and we had to call the match off. It was doubly disappointing for us as we have a cup final next Saturday and this wasn't the ideal prepraration for us. But there's nothing you can do about the weather.
Rovers, the league champions, and lying second in the league will be out for the points after being held to a draw by Fleet Star at the weekend.
It was another blank day for Wigtown after their match at Lockerbie was called off by the Mids officials and others at Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart suffered the same fate.
Newton Stewart will be in action at Gatehouse on Saturday when they take on Fleet Star in the South League while Dalbeattie Star are at home to the strong-going Wigtown. It should be a real battle for the points with Star top of the table and Wigtown lying in third spot and desperate to keep up their challenge. Abbey Vale take on Heston Rovers and St Cuthbert Wanderers are at home to Creetown.
HAIG AND POTTS CUP DRAWS
THE draws for the final two competitions of the season were made at a Southern Counties meeting held in Dalbeattie.
They are:
HAIG GORDON CUP 1st Round
Creetown v Mid Annandale
Threave Rovers v Abbey Vale
Stranraer v Heston Rovers
Nithsdale Wanderers v Dalbeattie Star
Crichton v Fleet Star
2nd Round
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Wigtown
Newton Stewart v Creetown or Mid Annandale
Threave Rovers or Abbey Vale v Stranraer or Heston
Nithsdale or Dalbeattie v Crichton or Fleet
CREE LODGE CUP 1st Round
Heston v Mid Annandale
St Cuthberts v Nithsdale
Creetown v Newton
Dalbeattie v Fleet
Crichton v Wigtown.
2nd Round
Abbey v Threave
Stranraer v Heston or Mids
St Cuthberts or Nithsdale v Creetown or Newton
Dalbeattie or Fleet v Crichton or Wigtown
SOUTH OF SCOTLAND FIXTURES
SATURDAY February 20, 2010 (ko2pm)
TWEEDIE Cup Final
Crichton v Threave Rovers
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Abbey Vale v Heston Rovers
Dalbeattie Star v Wigtown
Mid Annandale v Nithsdale Wanderers
Fleet Star v Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Creetown
WEDNESDAY February 24
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko7.30pm)
Stranraer v Threave Rovers
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Crichton
SATURDAY February 27 (ko2pm unless stated)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Fleet Star v Dalbeattie Star
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Nithsdale Wanderers
Threave Rovers v Mid Annandale
Wigtown v Abbey Vale
SOUTH REGION CUP
Newton Stewart v Heston Rovers
POTTS CUP Semi-Final
Crichton v Stranraer
TUESDAY March 2
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko7.30pm)
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Newton Stewart
Stranraer v Dalbeattie Star
Threave Rovers v Wigtown
SATURDAY March 6
SOUTH REGIONAL Cup (quarter finals) ko2pm
Crichton v Spartans
Stirling Uni v Dalbeattie Star
Whitehill Welfare v Newton Stewart or Heston Rov
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE (ko3pm)
Abbey Vale v Threave Rovers
Mid Annandae v Creetown
Fleet Star v St Cuthbert Wanderers
Wigtown v Nithsdale Wanderers
Stranraer v Heston Rovers
or Newton v Stranraer
WEDNESDAY March 10
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round (ko7.30pm)
Annan Athletic v Newton Stewart
St Cuthbert Wanderers v Fleet Star
Threave Rovers v Creetown
SATURDAY March 13 (ko3pm)
POTTS CUP FINAL
St Cuthbert Wand v Crichton or Stranraer
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round
Abbey Vale v Wigtown
Dalbeattie Star v Threave Rovers
Heston Rovers v Creetown
Mid Annandale v Stranraer
or
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Mid Annandale v Crichton
Newton Stewart v Fleet Star
WEDNESDAY March 17 (ko7.30pm)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Threave Rovers v Dalbeattie Star
Stranraer v St Cuthbert Wanderers
SATURDAY MARCH 20 (ko3pm)
SOUTH CHALLENGE CUP 1st Round
Crichton v Queen of the South
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Dalbeattie Star v Newton Stewart
Heston Rovers v Fleet Star
Mid Annandale v Abbey Vale
Nithsdale Wanderers v Threave Rovers
St Cuthbert Wand v Wigtown
Stranraer v Creetown
WEDNESDAY March 24 (ko7.3opm)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Threave Rovers v St Cuthbert Wanderers
Stranraer v Crichton
SATURDAY MARCH 27 (ko3pm)
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Crichton v Mid Annandale
Dalbeattie Star v St Cuthbert Wanderers
Fleet Star v Creetown
Newton Stewart v Threave Rovers
Nithsdale Wanderers v Heston Rovers
Wigtown v Abbey Vale
WEDNESDAY March 31 (ko7.30pm)
Stranraer v Fleet Star
SATURDAY April10
South Region Cup Semi Final
SOUTH & EAST FOOTBALL
RESULTS:
Saturday February 6, 2010
SOUTH of SCOTLAND
SOUTH LEAGUE CUP final
Stranraer 3 St Cuthbert Wanderers 0
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Crichton 4 Creetown 1
Fleet Star 0 Wigtown 6
Heston Rovers 1 Mid Annandale 2
Newton Stewart 6 Abbey Vale 1
Threave Rovers 5 Nithsdale Wanderers 0
EAST of SCOTLAND
CENTRAL TAXIS Premier League
Coldstream 1 Lothian Thistle 7
Edinburgh City P-P Preston Athletic
Selkirk 1 Spartans 3
Tynecastle P-P Civil Service Strollers
Whitehill Welfare P-P Heriot-Watt Uni
CENTRAL TAXIS Division 1
Craigroyston 5 Ormiston 1
Eyemouth United P-P Hawick R A
Gala Fairydean 1 Easthouses Lily 0
Gretna 2008 1 Kelso United 1
Leith Athletic 8 Peebles 2
Stirling Uni 2 Vale of Leithen 2
STRANRAER COLLECT LEAGUE CUP
TEENAGE sub Angus Cochrane was the hero as Stranraer lifted the first South Cup of the season.
Cochrane hit two late goals to clinch a 3-0 win over St Cuthbert Wanderers to win the South League Cup.
And it was sweet revenge for manager Alan Hannah and his side after Saints beat them in the final two years ago.
Hannah said: "It was great for Alan come on and score twice in a cup final. He's only 16 and a fine prospect if he carries on like.
"He was only on 15 minutes and scored twice and could well have had more. But all the lads deserve credit for a great second half which we really dominated."
After a goal-less first half the game sprang to life in the 55th minute when Craig Bradley shot home from the edge of the box to put the home side ahead.
Saints tried hard to get back into the game but as they went forward to ty and get the equaliser, they were caught out.
Stranraer scored twice in the last ten of minutes to clinch the silver.
Super sub Angus Cochrane fired home both late goals, the first in the 80th minute and the other with only a couple of minutes left on the clock.
This weekend is another big one for the Stair Park side for they travel to Crichton to play their several time postponed Potts Cup semi-final at Hospital Park.
The manager said: "This will be another very tough match for us. Crichton have come back after a bad start and are on a winning run. But we will be going there to try and reach the final and the win on Saturday has given the lads confidence."
THREAVE ROVERS moved to within three points of Dalbeattie Star when they comfortably beat Nithsdale Wanderers 5-0. Jamie Struthers hit the top corner of the net after only nine minutes and then Scott Wilby headed number two, five minutes before the turn.
Rovers continued to control the match after the interval and Wilby fired home a 62nd penalt after Andrew Donnelly was pulled down. Darren Kerr headed number four and Paul Cook returned to the side and got the fifth with a stoppage time header.
CRICHTON beat Creetown 4-1 with Roman Soltys hitting his second successive hat-trick. He side-footed the opener in 15 minutes and then David Kennedy got the second from 18 yards in on the half hour mark. Soltys scored twice in the second half from free kicks with Creetown getting a consolation counter from Ryan McKie.
Alan Murdoch notched up his second hat-trick in successive weeks as WIGTOWN crushed Fleet Star 6-0 to strengthen their third spot in the league. He scored three in the first half hour with Robert John Paisley and Grant Carnochan also hitting the net in the first half. Star keeper Alastair Cathro pushed a Ross McCrindle corner into his own net four minutes from time.
Wigtown face a trip to Lockerbie on Saturday to play Mid Annandale in the league and manager Michael Dougan will be looking for the points.
NEWTON STEWART came back from a five-goal midweek defeat to beat Abbey Vale 6-1 with Sean Taylor scoring four. They will be hoping they can get the better of Heston Rovers this weekend in the SFA Challenge Cup. The match will be at Blairmount Park and the winners will face a quarter final tie against Whitehill Welfare, one of the top clubs in the East of Scotland.
MID ANNANDALE beat Heston Rovers 2-1 in the other league match on Saturday after coming back from losing a 10th mimnute goal who fired home a penalty after Grant Learmonth was brought down in the box. But in the second half Mids recovered and Darren Notman pulled one back to level the scores three minutes into the second half and then in the 53rd minute Adam Smith sent over a cross from the right and Chris Norvel hit a great winner from 15 yards.
In the other league matches scheduled for Saturday leaders Dalbeattie Star come back after a blank weekend and new manager Paul Laurie will be hoping it's third time lucky to get his first match in. Two weeks ago their game was postponed and this was followed by being the odd team out on Saturday.
Star take a trip over to Kirkcudbright to play St Cuthbert Wanderers while in the other match Nithsdale Wanderers are at home to Abbey Vale.
SPARTANS AND THISTLE FORGE AHEAD
In the East of Scotland Premier League Lothian Thistle kept up the pressure at the top with a 7-1 win over Coldstream and Spartans stay clear after a 3-1 win over Selkirk.
In Division 1 Craigroyston go top after a 5-1 victory over Ormiston with Gretna 2008, Stirling Uni and Vale of Leithen all drawing.
PAUL TAKES OVER AT STAR
DALBEATTIE Star player Paul Laurie has taken over the manager's job with the South of Scotland League leaders.
Laurie, 31, who is the South's youngest manager, has been over six years with the side. He was previously with Annan Athletic and Stranraer.
Laurie said: "I'm delighted to get my first taste of manager here. My first aim is to bring a bit of stability to the club and try and get the crowds back.
"There was a lot turmoil last summer when we dropped out of the East Premier League but most of the lads have stuck by us.
Laurie, who has been out with a back injury since last season but hopes to play again, added: "I've been overwhelmed by their response and interim manager Keith Dingwall has done a great job keeping them at the top of the table.
"My main aim is to continue at the top and I've signed up most of the players for next season. I'm also the youngest manager in the South as Ally Sloan of Mid Annandale is seven days older," he said.
STEVEN RESIGNS AT MEADOWBANK
EAST of Scotland Premier League side Edinburgh City are on the lookout for a manager.
It follows the resignation of Shaun Steven.
City were crushed 5-1 by Tynecastle on Saturday and after the defeat Steven handed in h is resignation.
Club chairman Andy McDonald said: "We have accepted Sean's resignation with regret: "Over the past 6 ½ years, initially as assistant manager to his brother Tom and then as manager himself, Shaun has contributed enormously to the development of the team and of the club as a whole.
"This has been reflected in the club appearing in several East of Scotland and Qualifying cup finals, progress in the Scottish Cup and of course a Premier Division championship."
"All of us at the club offer Shaun our thanks and best wishes for the future."
Steven said things were just not happening and they had lost four games in a row. He added: "I think I've probably been at City too long and the players need a change of face.
"I've enjoyed my four years in charge and the time before with my brother Tom. I have been thinking about the decision for some time and Saturday's result was the final straw.
Gary Jardine and John Green are taking over until the committee decide on a new manager.
SOUTH & EAST of SCOTLAND
RESULTS: Saturday January 23, 2010
SOUTH of SCOTLAND
TWEEDIE Cup semi-final
Threave Rovers 4 St Cuthbert Wanderers 3
SOUTH of SCOTLAND LEAGUE
Dalbeattie Star 5 Abbey Vale 2
Heston Rovers P-P Fleet Star
Mid Annandale 3 Newton Stewart 0
Nithsdale Wanderers 2 Creetown 3
Crichton 4 Wigtown 3
EAST of SCOTLAND
KING CUP 1st Round
Vale of Leithen 4 Gala Fairydean 0
CENTRAL Taxis Premier League
Civil Service Strollers 1 Edinburgh Uni 1
Coldstream 1 Whitehill Welfare 2
Edinburgh City 1 Tynecastle 5
Preston Athletic 3 Heriot-Watt Uni 1
Spartans 2 Lothian Thistle 1
CENTRALTAXIS Division 1
Craigroyston 2 Kelso United 0
Easthouses Lily 2 Eyemouth United 2
Gretna 2008 1 Leith Athletic 1
Hawick R A 1 Ormiston 3
Peebles 0 Stirling Uni 6
STAR STRETCH LEAD AT TOP
SOUTH League leaders Dalbeattie Star stretched their lead at the top of the table to six points with a 5-2 win over Abbey Vale.
But Vale made them fight all the way, especially in the first half after Scott Milligan put them ahead in the 11th minute. Chris Rogerson levelled in the 27th minute with a 10 yarder and then two minutes before the turn Ian Quinn got the goal of the game with 35 yarder which sailed into the net over the Star keeper.
A minute later Milligan got his second to make it 2-2 and then Jak Dingwall got the first of his brace in 53 minutes and a second in the 83rd. Sub Clark Chambers hammered home the fifth with a minute left.
CRICHTON came back with two goals in the last five minutes to beat Wigtown 4-3 at Hospital Park. Roman Soltys, who hit a hat-trick, got the opener in 20 minutes with a 30 yard free kick but Ross McCrindle equalised five minutes later. In a free-scoring last 20 minutes Struan Parker curled in a second for Crichton but Robert John Paisley levelled five minutes later and Robert Jamies put Wigtown ahead for the first time in the 80th minute. Then Soltys drove home the equaliser five minutes later and headed the winner in stoppage time.
MID ANNANDALE picked up three points with a 3-0 win over Newton Stewart. Robbie Dodd and Ally Sloan hit two in the first half and Chris Norvel got the other.
CREETOWN beat Nithsdale Wanderers 3-2 thanks to a last minute Grant Fitzimmon goal. Ryan McKie had put them two up in the first 25 minutes but Barry Crosbie hit two before the interval for Wanderers only to see his side go down at the death.
Sean Milligan hit an 89th minute winner to take THREAVE ROVERS into the final of the Tweedie Cup.
STRANRAER'S big chance for a cup final comes on Saturday when they play Newton Stewart for a place in the South League Cup final which is due to be played next month.
But the Stair Park side has not played a competitive game in the South for six weeks and now consists of a younger element.
Manager Alan Hannah is preparing his side for the big match which will see the winners take on St Cuthbert Wanderers in the final at St Mary's Park, Kirkcudbright on Saturday February 6.
Their opponents on Saturday, Newton, had a disappointing start to the second half of the season when they crashed 3-0 to Mid Annandale at Lockerbie.
But they will be out to try for a final place when they take on Stranraer at Stair Park this weekend.
Wigtown were also at the wrong end of a seven-goal game at Dumfries where Crichton ran out 4-3 winners. It was a disappointing end for Wigtown for they were leading 3-2 with only 10 minutes left. Then Roman Soltys scored twice in the last five minutes to collect the points and complete his hat-trick.
This weekend the Trammondford Park side are at home to Creetown in the South League while Fleet Star entertain St Cuthbert Wanderers and Abbey Vale are at home to Threave Rovers who haven't played a league game for around two months.
Leaders Dalbeattie Star are at home for the second week running and play Heston Rovers while in the other match Crichton are at home to Nithsdale Wanderers.
They beat St Cuthbert Wanderers 4-3 with Darren Kerr and two from Andrew Donnelly putting them 3-2 ahead at the turn after Gary Redparth scored on his Saints debut along with Ally McMillan. Gary McClymont pulled Saints level 10 minutes into the second half with Milligan hammering in the late winner.
SPARTANS co-manager Mike Lawson has warned his side that the title's isn't in the bag yet.
The Ainslie Park side are four points clear at the top of the East Premier League with two games in hand to second top Lothian Thistle.
Spartans beat Thistle 2-1 in the first game in the East for five weeks after coming back from a Wayne McIntosh goal in six minutes.
Robbie Manson equalised for Spartans in 16 minutes and Keith McLeod slotted home on the half hour mark.
Lawson said: "These were three very important points for us. Lothian really had to win this but they are still not out of it and Tynecastle and Whitehill are still in there if they win their games."
He added: "We didn't play too well but what can you expect since we haven't played since December 12.
"Thistle knew this game was vital and played three up front. It's three great points and we're really just glad to be back playing."
Whitehill , Tynecastle, and Preston Athletic all won their games while in Division 1 Craigroyston and Stirling Uni lead the race for promotion but a draw 1-1 draw between Gretna 2008 and Leith Athletic dented the Raydale Park side's hopes.
GRETNA 2008 1 LEITH ATHLETIC 1
A GREAT goal from Daniel Rayson who was back in the side for the first time this season, helped the Raydale Park outfit to a draw.
Despite picking up a point it gave their promotion hopes a knock as the home side had been hoping to start the New Year on a winning run.
But all credit to 10-man Gretna as they were held to a 1-1 draw. Mark Birch received a second yellow card in the 63rd minute but after 81 minutes, Rayson's wonderful free kick broke the deadlock.
Then just as it looked as if the home side would hold out the ball was bundled into the Gretna net by Irvine with four just minutes left on the clock.
Gretna; Mitchell, Johnston, Wood, Birch, White, Cummersky, Renyard, Nugent, Nicholson, McMath, Carmichael. Subs: Jardine, Rayson, Rea, Seggie, Rudd.
Leith; Gordon, Milligan, Thom, Ewart, Wallace, Freedman, Duthie, Beaton, Campbell, Downie, Lauder. Subs: Irvine, Young, Middlemiss, Stewart, Lockhart
ICE SPORTS TAKE OVER
CURLERS turned out for the Gatehouse of Fleet Bonspiel held outdoors for the first time for nearly half a century.
Football may have been off for Fleet Star but their was plenty of action on the ice at Gatehouse.
It was a big day for Bobby Carson, 84, from Gatehouse who is president of the Girthon and Anwoth Curling Club.
For it was 1963 when he last took part in the bonspiel on the Bush Moss Loch on the outskirts of town.
He said: "The ice was six inches thick so we decided to go ahead. It's a great day for the town and for us. We never thought we were going to see it outdoors again.
"But this has been the hardest spell for years and it's great to be curling out here again."
And he was up against old rival 86-year-old farmer James Finlay who is a member of the Borgue Curling Club.
Mr Finlay, the oldest man on the ice, said: "The last time I curled was on the loch at Castle Douglas and that was in the early sixties.
"I suppose we're introducing a lot of people to the sport and we're all hoping people will come back after getting a taste of the sport."
Dozens of people turned out for the event and they were provided with refreshments during the day-long bonspiel.
Meanwhile Dumfries and Galloway Police were advising people to stay off ice in the River Nith at Dumfries and also lochs and ponds in some areas.
A spokesman said: "There have been a number of reports of persons curling/skating/walking on lochs in various parts of Dumfries and Galloway. Further reports have been received of persons walking on ice on the River Nith in Dumfries.
"Police would like to remind the public of the dangers of using frozen lochs for leisure purposes. While we have had freezing conditions over the last few weeks, the thickness of the ice on lochs can vary considerably in different areas of the loch making the safety of the ice extremely unpredictable."
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