East of Scotland round-up: Whitehill Welfare stun Bo'ness United and boost survival hopes

Whitehill Welfare lifted themselves off the foot of the East of Scotland Premier Division table and out of the relegation zone with a shock 2-1 win away to league leaders Bo’ness United.

Craig Meikle’s side led 2-0 at half-time at Newtown Park after Meikle’s header and Louis Swanson’s spectacular free-kick. Bo’ness fought back and reduced the deficit through Brian Ritchie’s penalty, but Whitehill held on to deliver just the second defeat of their hosts league campaign.

The Rosewell men are now two points clear of bottom club Blackburn United and winger Wayne Sproule says they would be in an even better position had they not conceded two late goals to lose to Musselburgh Athletic the previous week.

“It’s a massive three points for us which takes us out the relegation zone which is obviously a big plus for us, we are delighted,” said the 29-year-old.

“It just shows you, if we had maybe held on last week against Musselburgh, we would have been in a much better position but it makes up for that.

“It was a free hit for us and we seem to raise our game towards the big teams. We need to get our home form sorted - the pitch isn’t great and it just becomes a leveller at times. People will probably say we aren’t a great footballing side but I think we showed on Saturday that when we get ball down and play, we can play.

“We caught them on the break a right few times but don’t get me wrong, they missed a lot of chances and on any other day they could have taken them and we might not have taken all three points. Sometimes you need that bit of luck especially when you are bottom of the table.”

Sproule didn’t sign up to be in a relegation battle but their main aim now is to stay in the league, as he added: “We don’t want to be in this position and I never signed for Whitehill to be in this position, but right now we will just be delighted to stay in the league for next year.

"Saturday, we could have gone in and tried to play for a draw, but we went into it to try and get the three points, which we are doing for every game, because in this league anyone can beat anyone.”

Cuikie lose, Linlithgow fight back, Nitten lose eight-goal thriller

Elsewhere, Penicuik Athletic collapsed to their second league defeat of 2020 with a 4-1 loss at home to Dundonald Bluebell, while Linlithgow Rose winless run in the league was extended to three games after they drew 2-2 away to Sauchie, with goals from Ross Allum and Ruari MacLennan rescuing a point for Brown Ferguson’s men after they found themselves two goals down.

Dunbar United edged a eight-goal thriller with Newtongrange Star, winning 5-3.