East Kilbride 1 Cumbernauld Colts 0: Kilby move clear of Rangers B after narrow win

dailyrecord.co.uk:

East Kilbride moved three points clear of Rangers B at the top of the Lowland League after a hard-fought derby win over Cumbernauld Colts.In a tight contest at K-Park, skipper Gary Miller delivered the victory for EK with a 64th minute header after Neil McLaughlin had seen his penalty superbly saved by Colts keeper Ryan Adamson just moments earlier.Former East Kilbride defender and coach David Proctor brought his Colts side to his hometown for the first time since he took the reins at Broadwood, but he was unable to mastermind an upset on his return.It means Colts stay in 11th place in the table while EK are now three clear of Gers, who were sidelined this weekend due to international call-ups and have played two games fewer.

Kevin Rutkiewicz's men are also five points clear of third-place Civil Service Strollers having played a game more.Kilby went into the clash on a run of two home league games without a win, following a defeat to Edinburgh University on their last outing and a draw with East Stirlingshire, while both sides had varying fortunes in last week's Scottish Cup first round.

EK defeated Deveronvale 4-2, but Colts lost 1-0 to Lowland rivals Dalbeattie.With that, both sides had a point to prove but before kick-off the club's came together to pay their respects to former Kilby youth coach and ex-EK Thistle manager Alan Paterson, with a minute's applause observed to remember the 44-year-old who passed away on Tuesday.The hosts had an early scare in the fourth minute when Stephen O'Neill whipped in a terrific free-kick towards the back post.

All it needed was the faintest of touches, but nobody in a red jersey was able to turn the ball home for Colts.Ten minutes in, Kilby's first real sight at goal arrived when