Craigroyston 5-1 Ormiston: Five-star Craigroyston

Ormiston took the lead in the 11th minute. Craigroyston's Gary Georgeson conceded a needless free kick wide on the left and this was fired into the penalty box by Stewart Fisher. Craigroyston failed to clear their lines and, when the ball fell to Colin Clancy, he rammed it into the roof of the net from close range.

Ormiston's lead lasted just seven minutes.A superb angular pass from Stuart Martin picked out David Anderson who had advanced at pace towards the Ormiston penalty box. He took the ball in his stride and calmly slipped it past Paul Cadger from 16 yards.

Scott Mayberry then found Stewart Fisher with an inviting cross but he headed the ball wide before the same player was shown a yellow card for kicking the ball away.

Craigroyston's pressure was eventually rewarded five minutes before half time when a Kyle Hay cross from the right was headed over Cadger by the towering Ryan McKenzie.

Craig Weir brought off a fantastic diving save to deny Graham Nisbet an equaliser with a 25-yard shot only three minutes after the restart. However, it was Craigroyston who scored the crucial next goal when a free-kick from Michael Olsson was headed on by Martin and Georgeson was handily placed to plant a 16-yard volley beyond Cadger.

Craigroyston were now the more dominant team and when, in the 62nd minute, Hay delivered a telling corner into the crowded penalty area, the ball ended up in the net off the head and the neck of Andy Dewar.

The home side went nap in the 71st minute when Martin, unmarked, picked the ball up some 25 yards from goal. He had time to curl a measured shot behind Cadger and into the corner of the net.

Craigroyston continued to push forward and put the Ormiston defence under constant pressure with Olsson, Dewar and substitute Lloyd Dignan all testing the busy Cadger.

The result has put Craigroyston one point ahead of Stirling University who were held to a 1-1 draw with Vale of Leithen although Craigroyston have played three more games than the students.

Stevie Mason, who had an impressive game for Craigroyston in midfield, said: "I thought that we started slower than usual and conceding that early goal made us all realise that we had to be more up for the game.

"We then equalised quite quickly and that settled us down. At half time our manager (Jamie Burrell] told us to keep playing the game at a high tempo and once we scored our third goal it was comfortable.

"The pitch was heavy but we passed the ball well, especially in the second half, and could probably have scored more goals.

"We started to get in behind Ormiston and it was good to spread the goals around because that is what our management wants.

"Our aim at the end of the season is to be in the top two and although both Vale and Stirling will have to drop points, all we can do is keep winning and see what happens."

Alan Wilkinson, the Craigroyston coach, added: "That was a hard-fought victory in which we had to be at our best, especially in the second half when I thought our fitness levels were excellent. We work hard on our fitness and I also thought that our attacking prowess shone through.

"We went behind to some sloppy defending but bounced back and went ahead before half time. When Ryan scored the third goal with his back it was then all Craigroyston and we linked up well all over the park.

"We are top of the table and, although we have played more games, it is up to the other teams to catch us."

Murray Cheyne, the Ormiston manager, said: "I thought that in the first half we played quite well for the opening 20 minutes.

"We scored one goal and should have had another. Overall it was an even first half but then we conceded some bad goals mainly because I felt that Craigroyston's fitness was better than us. They deserved to win but probably not by four goals. We did not close their players down and they appeared to have a better desire to win. They work hard for each other and passed the ball well. They are good enough to get promoted.

"From our point of view at Ormiston, it is a case of going back to the drawing board because we do have some good players."

Craigroyston: Weir, Sproule, Olsson, McKenzie, Jeffrey (Robertson, 63), Georgeson (Lawson, 72), Manson, Hay, Anderson (Dignan, 63), Dewar, Martin. Subs: Cameron, Binnie.

Ormiston: Cadger, Nisbet, Enwood, S Fisher, Clancy, Thomas, Mayberry, C Fisher, Smith (Dickson, 72), McKenzie, McEwan (Hunter, 75). Sub: Donnelly.

Referee: R Thomson