Lowland League: Hearts kid McLean's hat-trick for Strollers

Civil Service Strollers 5

Selkirk 2

STROLLERS followed up last week’s win over Dalbeattie Star with another fine victory. The Capital side had fallen behind, though, after ten minutes when Phil Addison’s shot from 20 yards found the top corner despite the attempts of goalkeeper Stuart Burnside. Chris Milligan brought Civil level, slotting home after beating a couple of players. On 23 minutes, Russell McLean was fouled in the box and the on-loan Hearts player sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to put Civil ahead. Four minutes before half-time, Selkirk failed to deal with a corner from the left and Joe Dingwall pounced to smash the ball home and put Strollers 3-1 up. On the hour mark, Selkirk’s Scott Ritchie capitalised on some poor defending to bring his side back into the game. With 15 minutes remaining, Steven Froude broke down the right and cut a fantastic ball back for McLean to slot home his second of the day. Five minutes later, David Churchill jinked in from the left and McLean slotted home from close range to complete his hat-trick and the scoring.

Civil Service Strollers: Burnside, Milligan, Dingwall, Kidd, Milven, Churchill (Newall), Campbell (Boyle), Cunningham, Downie (Clapperton), McLean, Froude. Subs: Laird, Brown.

Gala Fairydean Rovers 3

Spartans 2

Despite a second-half comeback to draw level, Spartans were edged out at Netherdale. The hosts got off to the perfect start inside two minutes. Smith’s free-kick found Palizcka, who hooked the ball past Carswell. Spartans won a penalty in the tenth minute after Hay was upended but Greenhill’s spot-kick went wide. Smith doubled the Fairydean lead when his free-kick evaded the cluster of bodies in the box before nestling in the net. Six minutes after the break, Spartans halved the deficit. Townsley’s through ball found Maxwell, who turned well and scored. The same player almost equalised when he hit the post following Watson’s cut-back. Spartans’ pressured paid off moments later after Mair’s cross was acrobatically sent home by the scissor-kicking Hay. Almost immediately, Gala responded and Noble headed what proved to be the winning goal. In the dying moments, Beesley’s free-kick was tipped over the bar to deny Spartans a point.

Gala: Wright, Stephen, Miller, Windram, Aitchison, Hope, Smith, Noble, Sutherland, Paliczka, Simpson. Subs: Nicol, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Fenton.

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Maxwell, Ward (Watson), Malone, Greenhill, Stevenson, Mair, Townsley, Dishington, Hay (Beesley). Subs: Gabiola, Comrie, Tolmie, Rae.

Preston Athletic 0

Edinburgh University 3

A HAT-TRICK from the students’ Bruce Scott lit up a very cold and blustery day at the Pennypit to condemn Preston to another league defeat. The home side created the first clear chance as Stuart Ritchie fed Fabio Neto, sending the striker clean through. However, his shot clipped the outside of the post. On 35 minutes, Scott did well to hook a close-range effort into the net from a few yards out. He doubled the lead after latching onto a rebound off the bar to tuck home. The only blot on his day was a booking for a dive trying to win a penalty. Scott then completed his hat-trick with a superb, curling 25-yard effort into the top corner of the goal. Preston created a fine chance as great work by Neto and Keith Murray set up Sean Lawson but he scooped the ball over from close range.

Preston Athletic: Callan, Cowan, Graham, Siegel, McLeod Colquhoun (O’Rourke), Ritchie, Henderson, Murray, Neto (Shave), Lawson (Jardine). Subs: Law, Baines, Erskine, Innes.

Edinburgh University: Tait, Smith(Murray), McMillan, Irvine, Verkaik, Daniels-Yeoman, Matthew (Hely), Ritchie, Guthrie (McNicholas), McCrory-Irving, Scott. Subs: Davison