Defending champions Edinburgh City moved nine points clear after two late strikes saw off the challenge of Cumbernauld Colts at Meadowbank.

A Jamie Broadfoot penalty on 70 minutes for the visitors had cancelled out Ross Allum’s first half header.

But Allum struck again with six minutes remaining for the league leaders and John Dunn added a third in injury time for the 3-1 victory.

East Kilbride moved up to fourth in the table with a convincing 4-1 win over Gretna.

Billy Mortimer, who is on loan from Queen’s Park, netted on his debut for Billy Ogilvie’s team with Jack Smith grabbing a double and Marc Templeton also finding the net.

Iain Anderson scored Gretna’s consolation.

Jack Guthrie scored a hat-trick to take his season’s tally to 24 as Edinburgh University romped to a 4-1 win over Gala Fairydean Rovers – despite half their team missing.

Manager Dorian Ogunro said: “Jack just can’t stop scoring goals for us this season.

“We have a lot of players away home for Christmas and had to draft in a few of our Under 20s but we still played really well as a team and I’m pleased with the outcome.”

Paul Sutherland was Uni’s other scorer.

Vale of Leithen produced a second-half fightback at Whitehill Welfare but still went down 2-0.

A Sean Wringe double and a Callum Connolly strike gave the Ferguson Park side a commanding 3-0 lead at the break.

A Calum Jackson double pulled the score back to 3-2 but Welfare held on for the points.

Departing Selkirk striker Jordan Allan, who has teamed up with Kenny Shiels at Derry City, could only score a late consolation for Garry O’Connor’s team as they crashed out of the East Qualifying Cup against Civil Service Strollers.

A Kyle Boggie double along with strikes from Alex Brown and Jordan Finnie gave Strollers a 4-1 victory.

A furious O’Connor said: “I don’t think Jordan will be the only player leaving Selkirk.

“We need to reduce the squad to bring in new players. What we have at the moment isn’t good enough.”