Lowland League round-up: Preston pain; University victorious

Preston Athletic 0

Cumbernauld Colts 2

A goal in each half from Colts striker Sean Brown condemned Preston to a bottom-place finish this season. Brown opened the scoring on 25 minutes as he sliced through the home defence to slot past Craig Pennycuick. Just after half-timem, Preston’s Ross Cowan was shown a straight red for a last-man challenge and Brown finished off a neat move on 82 minutes to add to the Panners’ misery.

Preston Athletic: Pennycuick, Cowan, Keane, McLeod, Conway (Siegel), Stevenson, Neto, Young (Jardine), Smith (Carter), Binnie, Inglis. Subs: Cameron, Baines, Turkington, Cochrane.

Cumbernauld Colts: Fahey, Hunter, MacFarlane, Marshall, Ward, Broadfoot, O’Neil (MacKenzie), Murray (Barclay), Brown, Black, Sheridan. Subs: Giles, Fergus, Pirrie, Bateman, Byrnes.

Dalbeattie Star 1

Edinburgh University 2

The University made a good start to the game and early pressure almost paid off after 15 minutes when Calbacho rounded the keeper but failed to roll the ball into the inviting goal. However, five minutes later, they did take the lead when George Nikolaidis dribbled past Maxwell before hitting a low shot underneath the advancing keeper. Dalbeattie got back on level terms on 31 minutes when Iain Anderson latched onto a quickly-taken free kick and struck a fierce right foot drive from 25 yards into the far corner of the net. Both sides made chances in a well-contested second half but on, 85 minutes, Uni substitute Nathan Evans tucked away a cross from Murray for the decisive second goal.

Dalbeattie Star: Parker, Todd, Wilson, Dungilson, Maxwell, Murray, McHarrie, Wells, Anderson, Muir, Slater. Subs Brotherston, Aklbuire, Park, Bath, Ferguson, Thorburn.

Edinburgh University: Tait, Murray, McIntosh, Irvine, Verkaik, Daniels-Yeoman, Ritchie, Nikolaidis, Calbacho, Guthrie, McCrory-Irving. Subs Collins, Evans, Maskrey, Davison.

Spartans 1

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1

Jack Beesley’s 31st-minute free-kick from 18 yards separated the sides at the break after a first half dominated by Spartans. Four minutes after the restart, Gala equalised as Darren Smith capitalised on a cross lofted into the box. Cameron Dawson, on his senior debut, was inches away from netting the winner for Spartans seconds after coming on to the pitch, only to see his lob graze the top of the bar.

Spartans: Carswell, Dishington (Greenhill), Maxwell, Thomson (Dawson), Tolmie, Stevenson, Beesley (Grotlin), Comrie, Allum, Gabiola, Townsley. Subs: Saunderson, Grant, Gilpin.

Gala: Wright, Stephen, Swaney, Krones, Ainslie, Miller, Smith, Bonnington (Sutherland), Noble, Paliczka, Aitchison. Subs: Main, Noble, Shiel.

Stirling University 3

Whitehill Welfare 0

Three first-half goals secured victory for Stirling, now favourites to claim fourth spot. Danny Ashe headed in the opener after 15 minutes after he was first to a corner kick. Eleven minutes later, Paul McAfferty slotted in a second, finishing off a good move. Jamie Chapman headed just wide of the Stirling goal while Bryan Young had to react well to keep out a third goal. Four minutes before the break, Chris Geddes latched onto a diagonal ball, rounding Young before making it 3-0.

Stirling University: Marshall, Cuff, Kellock, Ashe, Nixon, Hunter,Jones, Faulds, Geddes, McEwan, McAfferty. Subs: Moyes, Gillon, McAnespie, Tuohy, Mailer, Leigh, Klijsen.

Whitehill: Young, McDiarmid, Kidd, Williams, Robertson (Baillie 21), Osborne, Kerr, Manson, Chapman, Healy, Brydon (Chalmers 71). Subs: McAuley, Russell, Jardine.