Non-league football: Crossgates win but it's defeat for Lochore and Lochgelly

And the four games played by the local sides saw only one win, with Crossgates Primrose producing a fine result at Blackburn United, with Dundonald Bluebell losing at home to Penicuik and both Lochore Welfare and Lochgelly Albert ending their games pointless.

After the match at Moorside, ‘Bell boss Kevin Fotheringham decided to resign.

Dundonald Bluebell 1 Penicuik Athletic 3

THIS turned out to be Kevin Fotheringham's last match in charge of ‘Bell as they missed the chance to move into the Premier League’s top five.

A win against title challenging Penicuik at Moorside would have been a real boost but it turned into a disappointing experience for the hosts and they're now looking for a new manager too.

Fotheringham admitted: “I have been thinking about stepping down for some time.

“It has been a pretty exacting last 20 months running a side during the pandemic, and while we have got back into extended action since July there are still a lot of restrictions on what can be done.

"It is the right time for myself and the club to see a change take place.

“We have been creating a lot of our own problems by losing too many avoidable goals, but hopefully that will change under a new manager.”

The Penicuik game was only seconds old when Bluebell’s Lewis McKenzie was struck by the ball in the face and went down, but play was waved on.

Cuicky managed to use the chaos in the home ranks to score the first goal, and McKenzie had to be subbed, but 20 minutes later the equaliser came when Billy Rogerson’s cross was perfect for Jack Smith to flash a header wide of the Penicuik ‘keeper.

The visitors went 2-1 ahead when a cheeky back heeled effort found the net but Dundonald kept working away and Chris Gay and Barry Sibanda went close.

As the game went on it looked as if Penicuik were going to hold on but the ‘Bell were awarded a penalty in the last minute.

With McKenzie out of action, Smith took the spot-kick only to see the goalkeeper make a fine save.

And to rub salt into Dundonald wounds Penicuik broke up the park and grabbed a third with seconds to go.

Blackburn United 1 Crossgates Primrose 4

A FINE performance from Primrose saw them move into the top six of the Premier League.

The visitors made a fine start and grabbed the lead in eight minutes when Darren Aitken fired a 20 yard volley into the net.

Crossgates were by far the better side and continued to create chances, but the finishing touch eluded them until the 44th minute when Stewart McDonald showed a fine piece of skill to beat the ‘keeper from close range.

Blackburn came out for the second period in determined mood and pulled a goal back in 57 minutes.

However, the Crossgates defence worked hard to keep them out and with 11 minutes to go Cammy Muirhead latched onto a through ball and cleverly beat the ‘keeper.

United came out to try and get back into it but Primrose kept their cool and Brian Ritchie made it 4-1 with only minutes to go with a fine finish.

The result has Crossgates on 18 points from 12 games and in sixth spot.

Peebles Rovers 1 Lochore Welfare 0

THE Welfare went down to a shock defeat at Peebles and were knocked off the top of the Conference B table.

But really they were all over the home side and like in recent games, they missed a series of chances.

Right from the start it was all about Lochore pressing and there were several close things around the Rovers goal with Euan Sutherland hitting the woodwork.

Soon after Scott Small hit the bar as Peebles reeled with the Welfare pouring forward.

Border raids from the home side were few and far between, but at the break there were no goals.

In the second half Cusick hit the bar and post and a goal just would not come for Lochore.

More good openings came and went and with seconds left there was a sucker punch when Peebles were awarded a penalty.

Small was adjudged to have pushed a Rovers man in the box and the spot-kick was duly converted.

The defeat saw Lochore move from top to sixth, but they are only two points off the summit.

Manager James Adam was bitterly disappointed and said: “Literally we dominated the game from start to finish and we saw some amazing misses.

“We were by far the better side but the woodwork and some bad misses cost us although we are still very much in the battle to finish at the top of the table.”

Lochgelly Albert 0 Preston Athletic 5

A BAD day for the Berts as the East Lothian side took advantage of some poor defending to collect a big Conference B win at Purvis Park.

Yet in the opening stages it was Lochgelly who had the better chances, however a rash challenge in the box saw a penalty awarded to Athletic and they never looked back.

The Berts’ Pat Armour saw his header come back off the Preston bar and there were other half chances but at the break they were still a goal down.

Lochgelly needed to make a good start to the second period but within seconds of the re-start some awful defending let Athletic double their lead.

Then in 55 minutes a short pass-back created the opening for Preston to go three up.

Another foul in the Albert box saw a second penalty for Preston, which was tucked away, and another error in the closing seconds saw the visitors go nap.

Lochgelly sit on 12 points from 10 games.

Secretary Ian Patrick is hopeful that new manager Brian Muirhead can bring in some new players this week.

He told Times Sport: “The defending was appalling at times and cost us at least three goals.

“We were short of players, with only two subs listed, so hopefully Brian can have a few new faces in for next week’s match at Newburgh for we can still stay in touch with the top seven.”

Saturday’s fixtures (all kick-offs 2.30pm): East of Scotland Premier League, Penicuik Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Crossgates Primrose v Dunbar United.

Conference B, Newburgh v Lochgelly Albert. King Cup first round, Lochore Welfare v Kennoway Star Hearts.

Sunday, Broxburn Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell (ko 12.15pm.)