It was a family affair at Albyn Park as Broxburn Athletic picked up their first win since October thanks to a 3-1 victory over Hill of Beath Hawthorn.
Caretaker gaffer Scott McNaughton was assisted by father – and former Brox boss – Brian as the hosts netted three times after the break to pick up three points.
The younger McNaughton was in charge for his second game since previous boss Chris Townsley stepped down following their Hogmanay loss at home to Linlithgow Rose.
A string of half-chances, predominantly from the hosts, weren’t converted in the first 45 as the teams went at the break goalless but Athletic quickly took control of the game following the restart.
After just four minutes Gary Brass sent Ross Nimmo charging down the right flank with the winger firing the ball across goal for the striker to net.
Darren Downie then saw his effort well saved by Stuart Hall in the Haws goal before the visitors dragged themselves level in fortuitous circumstances as Calum Adamson’s 63rd minute corner got caught in the wind and wrong-footed Josh Blair in the Brox goal as it flew into the far corner.
Having looked like a team low in confidence in recent weeks, to their credit the hosts refused to wilt and bounced back in style, with Bradley Donaldson powering a header home on 73 minutes from a David Greenhill corner.
And they wrapped up the victory six minutes from time as Brass made it a double on the day and a dozen for the season in similar fashion as he rose the highest to head a Greenhill delivery into the net.
Elsewhere, it was mixed 1-0 results for West Lothian’s two other East of Scotland Premier Division sides as Linlithgow Rose won by that margin away to Invekeithing Hillfield Swifts, while Blackburn United suffered a loss by that scoreline away to Musselburgh Athletic.
The Rose showed the true mark of champions by being able to grind out a win when not at their best and playing in tough, blustery conditions.
Mark Stowe’s second-half penalty was enough to seal the three points which now puts them a resounding 15 points clear at the top of the table.
At the other end, United were unable to build on last week’s derby win over Broxburn as Liam Reid’s first-half goal was enough to separate the sides, with both finishing the game with 10 men.
Ross Crawford bagged himself a brace as Whitburn climbed back to the top of the East of Scotland Second Division table thanks to a 3-1 away victory at Craigroyston. The prolific striker got the ball rolling early on with a second-minute goal before the hosts drew quickly level.
Martin Maguire restored the lead after the break before Crawford netted his 24th of the season to seal the win. That victory, accompanied with Syngenta suffering a 5-3 home loss to Stirling University, sent the Burnie two points clear with a game in hand.
In the Third Division, Armadale Thistle’s march to promotion continued thanks to a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Stoneyburn.
Goals from Colin Strickland, Ruari MacLennan and Fraser Keast ensured the Dale are now 16 points clear in second place. Elsewhere, Pumpherston and Harthill Royal both suffered defeat, going down 3-0 at home to Edinburgh College, while Harthill lost 4-0 away to leaders Bo’ness Athletic.
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