Chasers bid to keep the heat on Bo'ness

THE only two sides who can possibly pip runaway leaders Bo'ness United to the Super League meet at Creamery Park tonight, with a win surely imperative for either Bathgate or Linlithgow Rose if they are to have any chance of what would be a remarkable fightback.

Bathgate are 15 points adrift of the leaders with three games in hand, while Linlithgow are 22 points adrift with six games in hand. Needless to say, it would be a tall order for either side as Bo'ness would also have to slip up somewhere along the line in their remaining three games.

Bathgate will enter tonight's encounter in confident mood following their draw with the leaders last Saturday. Linlithgow, however, only scraped a draw against a resurgent Whitburn side and will need to improve a great deal to take advantage of any slip ups.

There will be a trio of Scotland Juniors strikers on parade tonight with Bathgate's Jim Lister lining up against Graeme McLaren and Tommy Coyne of Linlithgow. As well as keeping their slim title hopes alive, Linlithgow's players will be looking to impress manager Dave Baikie ahead of their forthcoming Scottish Junior Cup final against Largs in a couple of weeks.

Elsewhere in the East of Scotland Cup its quarter final stage with Whitburn at home to struggling Hill f Beath. Whitburn will start favourites after recently thrashing Hill of Beath 4-0 in Fife. Whitburn have had lots of financial problems recently but the players look to have put that behind them with a string of impressive results taking them away from the relegation zone.

In the Premier League its crunch time for Fauldhouse and Armadale in the battle to avoid the drop as they prepare to meet at Park View. With only two games remaining for both sides, Fauldhouse are in second bottom, four points adrift of fourth-bottom Armadale.

The Fife and Lothians Cup sees Tranent at home to a Livingston side that knocked Super League and League Cup winners Camelon out in the last round. Tranent have stalled recently and face a tough test of their mettle to reach the semi-final.

In the South Division there are two games being played. Dunbar are at home to Spartans, while West Calder have a home game against Sauchie.