Coldstream stretch winning streak in East of Scotland Football League division two to nine matches

Prior table-toppers West Calder United having been out of action at the weekend, that 14th victory of the season lifts manager David Brown’s Streamers up one place into pole position, now on 44 points from 21 fixtures, though their West Lothian title rivals are only a point behind with two games in hand.

Coldstream’s latest win, following on from a 4-2 first-round RJM Sports League Cup loss hosting Fife’s Lochgelly Albert seven days previously, was secured by goals from Craig Bell on 11 minutes and 61, Connor Brian on 40 and captain Thomas Grey on 83.

Their division two rivals Linton Hotspur were on first-round King Cup duty on Saturday, losing a penalty shootout 5-4 at home to Fife’s Crossgates Primrose after ending open play tied at 1-1.

Pol Adrian scored for co-managers Ruairidh Fleming and Paul Currie’s hosts on 63 minutes, with Mark McKenzie equalising for the visitors on 76.

Hawick Royal Albert’s lead at the top of the next division down has been cut to four points after they lost 3-2 hosting Stoneyburn on Saturday at the same time as second-placed Livingston United were beating basement side Edinburgh Community 6-2 away.

Connor Elliot scored for gaffer Kenny Aitchison’s Royalists on 13 minutes and Graeme Clark doubled their lead on 44 but their visitors hit back after the interval, with Kieran Sweeney netting on 46 and 70 and Sam Clark on 78, to take all three points away with them.

Saturday’s four EoSFL division three fixtures also included a 1-1 draw for Vale of Leithen at home to Tweedmouth Rangers.

Craig Heath put the Northumbrians in front with a goal past home No 1 Thomas McLean on 23 minutes but Jason Brydon salvaged a point for manager Ger Rossi’s hosts with an 84th-minute equaliser.

That third draw of the season leaves the Innerleithen outfit eighth in the table, level with ninth-placed Tweedmouth on 30 points from 21 fixtures.

Hawick host a derby versus Vale this coming Saturday, with kick-off at Albert Park at 2.30pm.

That will be the former Scottish Lowland Football League rivals’ third meeting of this term, with the Royalists having won the prior two, both on league duty, by 1-0 away in December and 2-1 at home last September.

A division up, Coldstream are away to Kinnoull and Hotspur – eighth in the table at the moment, on 29 points from 22 matches – are at home to 11th-placed Harthill Royal at the same time.

The Streamers head to Perth in pursuit of a winning double after beating ninth-placed Kinnoull 5-1 in August’s reverse fixture at Home Park.

Hotspur, on the other hand, will be hoping to get third time lucky after losing twice so far this season to Harthill, both on the road in West Lothian in August, by 4-0 in the league and 2-1 in the Alex Jack Cup’s first round.