East of Scotland: Strollers target top-three finish

Civil Service Strollers boss Alex Cunningham says his players have given themselves a real chance of a top-three finish in the East of Scotland League after coming from a goal down to beat Coldstream 3-1.

.

The North Edinburgh club have now won eight matches on the trot since losing to Hawick Royal Albert at the end of March and are five points clear of Tynecastle in third. They are also just two points adrift of champions Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

After a goalless first half at Christie Gillies Park, the visitors scored a surprise opener just after the hour mark when Kieran Ingram slotted home. However, striker Kyle Boggie levelled with 15 minutes remaining before Ian Ballantyne’s header five minutes later turned the match in the hosts’ favour. Jordan Finnie completed the comeback with a well-taken goal three minutes from full time.

Civil are on league duty again tomorrow night when they travel to bottom-of-the-table Eyemouth United and Cunningham is hoping his side can keep their momentum going.

“The players’ attitude and desire is driving us forward at the moment and we are now targeting a top-three finish which in itself is a creditable result for the team in its first season together,” he said. “The three goalscorers all maintained their good run of recent form by getting on the scoresheet again against a Coldstream side who played well.

“At half-time, we said to the players not to get too frustrated as the clear-cut chances would come as we were playing well enough.”

Elsewhere, Heriot-Watt University put their recent run of poor form behind them as they swept aside Ormiston 4-1 at Riccarton while Tynecastle edged out Stirling University 2-1 at Saughton Enclosure with Stewart Adams grabbing both goals.

Meanwhile, Leith Athletic are through to the King Cup semi-final after they saw off Duns 4-2 at New Hawthorn Park, a John Ferguson brace and solo efforts from Neil Lowson and Robbie Mason setting up a last-four clash with Ormiston at Meadowbank 3G at tonight.

The winners will face Lothian Thistle in the final later this month after Raymond Carr’s men were awarded Saturday’s tie against Peebles Rovers when the Borders side were unable to field a team.