Blackburn United boosted their East of Scotland Premier Division survival hopes with a shock victory 2-1 away to promotion chasing Penicuik Athletic.
The Burnie battled back from a goal down as Liam Allison levelled things up midway through the second half before top scorer Callum Heath came off the bench to secure three vital points in the closing stages.
The two sides had met the previous week in West Lothian with the Cuikie running out winners by the same scoreline.
United’s victory is all the more commendable given they were without three goalkeepers with Chris Ashely featuring between the sticks as a trialist.
Craig Saunders and Gavin King were both unavailable while on loan Jamie Smith was recalled by Hamilton Accies due to their own goalkeeping crisis.
The trialist’s afternoon started off in a less than ideal way when he was shown an early yellow card but United would settle into the contest and threatened to open the scoring three times in the first half.
Allison saw his effort beaten away by home keeper Robert Watt with Danny Campbell’s follow up blocked while Allison then fired over after waltzing through a couple of defenders.
Richie Hutton would go close next for the Burnie as his angled drive was saved by Watt.
The second half started with Athletic almost immediately getting themselves in front when the United defence were caught napping which allowed Kieran Watson to fire home at the back post.
That saw a change of momentum with Cuikie piling on the pressure as they searched for a second. Ryan Edwards went close but could only blast over the bar from close range.
The equaliser arrived on 66 minutes when Hutton broke clear down the right flank with Campbell flicking the cross onto Allison who looped his header into the far corner.
The game descended into a midfield battle with neither side able to take control.
But the game swung in United’s favour nine minutes from time as Edwards was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Allision - although the hosts almost got themselves back in front immediately as Ashley thwarted Nick Reid in a one-on-one.
Blackburn would grab the winner with three minutes remaining when Heath collected the ball inside his own half before feeding Allison.
The winger continued his run forward and took the return pass before driving into the box and firing an angled drive across Watt and into the far corner. The victory sees United jump to within one point of safety.
Elsewhere, it was goals aplenty as the League Cup group section got underway. Armadale Thistle and Fauldhouse United both defeated higher league opposition 1-0 away from home while Livingston United and Pumpherston both battled hard in home losses.
United went down 3-1 to Premier Division outfit Crossgates while Pumphy were edged out 2-1 against Heriot-Watt University.
The two Group J games brought about 13 goals as Linlithgow Rose let slip a 3-1 lead against Division One side Dalkeith Thistle, ultimately losing 4-3.
West Calder United rescued a 3-3 draw at home to Luncarty with Gordon Wilson netting a late free-kick to ensure a share of the spoils while Whitburn suffered a 3-2 loss at home to Edinburgh United.
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