Central Taxis Premier Division: Round-up

A LATE double helped Spartans maintain their five-point lead in the league and leave Selkirk deep in the relegation zone. Alex King had fired the visitors into a tenth-minute lead after latching on to a Ross Archibald through ball. But Selkirk fought back to level from the penalty spot after Kevin Sivewright handled a Michael Romanes shot. Grant Gas slotted the spot kick past Chris Flockhart. John Dodds denied Omar Kadir regaining the lead for Spartans with a close-range header just before the break. Selkirk began to tire after half time but Spartans struggled to find a way through. Gavin Malin almost scored on 75 minutes as his 20-yard free-kick rattled the crossbar. With only five minutes remaining, Steven Sharkey slid a low Keith McLeod cross into his own net. In the third minute of stoppage time, Donal Henretty finished a breakaway move to net Spartans' third.

Selkirk: Dodds, Sharkey, Stephen, Cockburn, Pritchard, Romanes, Wilson, Gass, Jackson, Black, McMannus. Subs: Munro, Clapperton, Douglas, Main.

Spartans: Flockhart, O'Donnell, Henretty, Gerard, Sivewright, Archibald, King, McAuley, Kadir, McLeod, Hoskins. Subs: Manson, Malin, Vinelli, Smith.

FIRST DIVISION

Gala Fairydean1Easthouses Lily MW0

ON A difficult surface, both sides served up an entertaining match. Chris Anderson was put clear down the left wing after a quarter of an hour and he headed at pace for the box. Euan Smith made an ugly challenge that was just inches inside the box and Mr McKenzie pointed to the spot. Anderson took the kick himself and placed it to the goalkeeper's left. Anderson was brought down again ten minutes later for what looked like a more clear-cut foul but Mr McKenzie declined to give another penalty. Mid-way through the half, Des Sutherland turned his defender and struck a shot from 20 yards out that struck the Easthouses cross bar. The second half saw Gala in the ascendancy but the second goal eluded them thanks largely to Young in goal. All of their good work almost came unstuck late in the match when a snap shot by Gaylor from ten yards out looked goalbound but Lumsden's instincts were sharp enough for him to palm the ball away for a corner. Just on full time, Andy Hardie sold the Easthouses defenders a dummy on the halfway line and advanced on goal. However, on a sticky pitch he was overhauled and tackled.

Gala Fairydean: Lumsden, Hay, L. Hardie (Wood 50), Hossack, Riddle, Young, Gibson (Holness 62), Collins, Sutherland, A. Hardie, Anderson. Subs: Miller, McCulloch

Easthouses Lily: Young, Smith, Arthur, Gow, Kidd, Love (Watson 35), Malone (Currie 65), Stupart, Rennie (Hunter 58), Gaylor, Curran. Subs not used: Conlon, Beattie

Gretna 20081Kelso United1

ALTHOUGH the home side had more of the early possession, it was Kelso who had the first few goal chances. After five minutes, Damion MacNulty shot just wide from outside the box. Ten minutes later, Jamie Milner was gifted a free header from a Kelso cross but this was saved by Gretna keeper Alex Mitchell, who did the same two minutes later. Gretna suffered a blow after 28 minutes when Ross Johnston received a nasty elbow in the face while challenging for the ball and was unable to continue.

This seemed to spur Gretna on and Daniel Rayson stood out for the home side up front. His cross to Renyard, who shot just wide, was Gretna's first real attempt on goal after 30 minutes. Too many Gretna players were having an off day, exemplified by Nikki White's back header in defence which allowed Derek Burnett to steal the ball and slot past Mitchell to put the visitors ahead after 31 minutes. David Renyard then started to take control of his game and had a couple of opportunities before being brought down in the box.

Dean Rea stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was too close to keeper Scott Dowie who made an excellent save low to his right. In the second half, Gretna came out fighting, with some better play by Errington in particular. However despite all their pressure and dominance, the Border team failed to connect up front and were always at risk from Kelso on the break. With five minutes remaining, Errington was tripped in the box and this time Rudd took the penalty, making no mistake with his blast into the net.

Leith Athletic 8-2 Peebles

BOTH teams had to deal with very difficult underfoot conditions after excellent work from the ground staff and the Leith committee to get the pitch just about playable. Still, an entertaining game took place with Leith taking the lead early through Craig Downie, then Chris Beaton made it two for Leith.

However, Peebles looked better prepared and organised since the last time the teams met and scored two goals in quick succession through Steven Mclean and Peter Shearlaw. This gave Peebles a huge lift and they could have taken the lead but Iain Gordon was on hand to make a good stop. Just before half time, Leith got in front through Greg Irvine from close range.

The second half was one-way traffic with Leith countering Peebles expertly. Craig Downie completed his hat-trick with two goals in the space of a few minutes. Irvine also grabbed his second before Lauder scored the goal of the game. Thom and Downie got on the scoresheet before an excellent strike from 25 yards from Chris Beaton.

Substitute Grant Fairbairn got Leith's eighth from close range. They could have made it a few more but Peebles' Steven Mclean went close a couple of times. The big striker, who caused Leith problems all day, looks to be a good find for the club.

Leith Athletic: Gordon, Milligan, Thom, Wallace, Ewart, Duthie, Lauder, Freedman, Beaton, Irvine, Downie. Subs: Lockhart, Middlemiss, Campbell, Fairbairn.

Peebles: Simmons, Urey, Knox, Welsh, Raffaelli, Morrison, Crosbie, Anderson, Hosker, Mclean. Subs: Kane, Dilworth, Girdwood, Harley, Brocklehurst.