Leith Athletic ready to dish out more pain to Duns

Leith Athletic sit 17 points clear at the top of the East of Scotland League after a 5-1 victory over Duns at Meadowbank 3G.

Lewis Martin scored twice for Leith

Duns are set to return to Meadowbank this evening as Leith begin the defence of The Central Taxis League Cup (7.45pm kick-off) in the first round.

The Leithers raced into a three-goal lead within the first half hour, Lewis Martin netting a double and Sean Murphy also getting on the scoresheet.

Leith missed the chance to increase their lead from the penalty spot on 29 minutes. They bombarded the Duns goal with efforts but had to settle for a 3-0 interval lead.

They scored a fourth on 53 minutes through Lewis Tracey, and although Duns performed better in the second half with Jordan Lauder scoring from the spot, John Ferguson netted a decisive fifth for Derek Riddell’s side late on, the league leaders having now scored 70 league goals this season for the loss of just 13.

There was a career milestone set at Ainslie Park as Coldstream striker John Crawford made it 201 East of Scotland League goals.

Victory eluded the veteran hitman, however, as Spartans EoS returned into second place with a 6-2 victory.

Mark Gair put the hosts ahead in the first half, with further strikes in the second period coming from Brad Raiker and Blair Anderson who netted a double apiece. Andy Howat completed the scoring on 86 minutes.

Spartans host Tynecastle in a league clash tonight.

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale played their first competitive fixture since the Scottish Cup exit to East Kilbride last month with a 3-1 win over Hawick Royal Albert at Saughton.

Scott Gormley netted a double for Lothian with Liam O’Donnell also on target with the League Champions facing Civil Service Strollers at Saughton tomorrow night in the first round of The Central Taxis League Cup (7.45pm kick-off).

Strollers were 1-0 victors at Burntisland Shipyard with David Middlemass on target. Tynecastle slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Peebles Rovers.

Ormiston defeated Craigroyston 3-1 at Recreation Park, Mark Smith and Johnny Edmond on target along with a debut goal for Alexander Dimitrov. Keith Buckley netted for The St Mark’s Park side.