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Friday evening saw the Final of the Harkness Plumbing & Heating Trophy played at the David Keswick Centre, with Palmerston Colts and Nithside serving up an end to end encounter in terrible conditions. The pitch held up remarkably in the driving rain and credit to both sides as they played some lovely football befitting a final. The first ten minutes were pretty cagey as both sides felt eachother out and first site of goal fell to Nithside, but Michael McGhie screwed his shot wide but he made no mistake on 24 minutes when a ball over the top of the defence set him clear and he rounded the keeper to score. Going behind spurred Palmerston into action and a couple of good saves from Paul Burton kept Nithside ahead, then on the half hour the Palmerston striker poked wide from a driven cross. Nithside were looking dangerous on the break and could easily have extended their lead before Palmerston levelled just before the break with a Darren Tait header from a corner. Nithside had the ball in the net early in the second but offside was given and within a couple of minutes Palmerston took the lead as man of the match Liam Malcolm rifled a 30 yard strike into the top corner. Again the tide turned as Nithside now had to chase the game a fine save on 76 minutes denied them an equaliser then on 83 minutes two blocks from Palmerston defenders kept them in front. With five minutes to go a free kick from almost half way was lofted into the box and Sean Potts got his head to nod the equaliser, with extra time looking inevitable another free kick from the other side of the pitch was again thrown into the danger area and Ross Kane headed Nithside into delirium. League action on Sunday saw Hole in the Wa reassert their title credentials as they put Scaur to the sword. A Tommy Goss hat trick on top of Eddie Marshalls opener and Joe Jardines penalty, with Iain Corson and Davey Paterson also scoring to round off a fine win. Queens Bar picked up their second point of the season and further dented Annan Town hopes of a triple title. Two goals from Robert Chambers and a Cameron Ross strike cancelled out A Shaun Bell double and Carl Crosbies effort for Annan. Black Bull Rovers also picked up a rare point in the First Division, sharing six goals with Loreburn Thistle. Shahid Ali had Bull in front but Connor Docherty and Scott Murray turned things round for Thistle. An own goal levelled matters and Matty Donagher looked to have given Rovers all three points but David Cain popped up to earn a share of the spoils. Five Arches continued their stroll back to the Premier but were made to work for the win against Park Thistle. Robbie Simpson had Park in front but Graeme Maxwell Levelled and a David Bradbury penalty put Bombers ahead. Grant Elliot headed a third before the break but after the interval Park were back in the game as Dougie Rae finished off a fine move. David Bradbury netted again and two late goals from Greg Rice and Duncan Smith put a gloss on the scoreline for the leaders. Dumfries Athletic lost ground at the top as they narrowly lost out to a Daniel Cottrell goal in a tight match with Summerhill. FC Annan Won at Ruthwell to close the gap to put pressure on the play off spot. A John Campbell Double and strikes from Mark Leesing jnr and Mark Leesing snr were enough to win despite Ryan Johnstones first half equaliser.
