Normandy and Moffat carry regions hopes

Two of our sides made it through to the last 32 of the National Cup as Normandy Star travelled to Rosehill Thorns and four goals from Mark Cravens saw them into next Fridays draw. Moffat Thistle were also victorious on the road at Glasgow Rovers. Hole in the Wa bowed out despite having their chances to progress, with a solitary Sean Peat strike cancelled out by two from Airdrie United Reds. Annan Town also bowed out of the competition despite goals from Sean Bell and Paul Schoolar as Brunswick triumphed at Galabank. On league business Nithside closed the gap at the top to three points as they saw off a stubborn Kelloholm side with goals from Stevie Green, Michael McGhie and Thomas Nicholson. Scaur climbed to third with victory over Queens Bar. Ross Lockhart fired Scaur ahead before Mark Carruthers levelled but a Matt Coleman double put Scaur in control and goals from Sean Wood and Ben Louden put the result beyond doubt despite an OG giving Queens Bar hope, an OG at the other end wrapped up the scoring. Palmerston Colts also picked up three important points from Morton Youth. Andrew Gilston, Ryan Gilmore and Craig Kerr had the Colts three nil up at the interval, in the second half two reds for Morton ruined any hopes of a fightback and Andrew Gilston went on to grab a hat trick, Gilmore and Kerr added seconds and Gavin Harkness and a trialist also netted; Youth did manage to score twice in response but to no avail. The top two met in the first division and Dumfries went two nil up through Liam Watson and Neil Wight as they looked to gain ground on Five Arches, but the Bombers roared back as Cahir McLaughlin reduced the deficit and headed goals from Graeme Maxwell and Russel Handley put them in front. Dumfries levelled again from the spot with Alan Lamb converting but an own goal and another from Graeme Maxwell kept Five Arches 100% record intact. FC Annan moved to within a point of the play off spot as they hit double figures against Black Bull, John Campbell helped himself to six and Chris Norval pitched in with a brace as Jamie Nixon, Mark Leesing snr and Dylan Irving completed the scoring. Ruthwell Rovers came back from three nil down to claim their first win of the season, scoring nine in the process. A Rees Brown double and Kieran Crosbie penalty seemed to put Loreburn Thistle in control but Rovers struck back with a Tony Power hat trick and goals from Josh Adams, Grant Bryson, Fynn Turner, James Johnstone, Owen Brown and Mikey Young, The final match was a tight affair as Summerhill and Park Thistle played out a one all draw. Thistle were ahead early through Dougie Rae but apart from the goal there was nothing between the two sides. Summerhill finished strongly and earned a point as a driven cross was sent netward by an unlucky Park defender,