DEFENDING champions Edinburgh City opened up a nine point lead at the top of the Lowland League following a five goal hammering of Edinburgh University.

Ian McFarland started the rout at Meadowbank with the opener inside five minutes.

Dougie Gair and Sean Muhsin added to the tally before half time.

Substitute Dean Carse and Ouzy See completed the scoring late in the second half for Gary Jardine’s team.

The manager said: “We can only take each game as it comes and I thought we did really well against a good University team.

“The teams behind us have games in hand so it is important that we keep winning.”

Spartans moved up to third after hammering managerless Preston Athletic 7-0 at the Pennypit.

Aaron Murrell and Conner Duthire both scored braces for Dougie Samuel’s team during a one-sided match in East Lothian.

Keith Murray and Davie Greenhill were also on target and defender Reece Cochrane defelcted a cross into his own net.

In the South Challenge Cup furious Selkirk gaffer Garry O’Connor read out the riot act to his players after they were thumped 4-1 by Civil Service Strollers.

David Stewart and Ian Ballantyne both scored doubles for the East of Scotland side with former Morton striker Jordan Allan grabbing the home team’s consolation.

O’Connor said: “I am going to take this club forward and I won’t accept performances like that.”

“We were second to every ball today and that isn’t good enough.”

There was a further shock at Netherdale where Tynecastle toppled Vale of Leithen.

Scott Coleman’s late winner was enough for the East of Scotland side to leave with a 3-2 win.

Stewart Adams and Dean Crabbe also netted for Tynecastle while Jay Stevens and Keith McLeod scored for Micky Lawson’s team.

Lawson lamented an injury crisis at his club which has left him short of players. He said: "We are so short of players I was ready to bring coach Jimmy Rae on towards the end of the game."