A Jack Hay strike just before half time brought East Kilbride’s record breaking run of 30 wins to a halt.

To compound the misery for Martin Lauchlin’s team, Kieran Gibbons was red carded in the closing stages.

The victory, which takes second-placed Spartans to within 13 points of the leaders, delighted manager Dougie Samuel. He said: “If East Kilbride had won today the league would more or less have been over.

“We played well to deserve the win and we’ve given ourselves a chance to start closing the gap.”

David Bingham enjoyed a winning start as manager of Whitehill Welfare.

Dale O'Hara, Michael Osborne, Scott Gormley and John Williams were all on target for the home team as they beat Civil Service Strollers 4-0 at Ferguson Park.

Joe Slattery and James Batty scored Dalbeattie Star’s goals against Gala Fairydean Rovers to remain level with Spartans in joint second.

David Grant scored four as East Stirlingshire hammered bottom side Preston Athletic to renew their challenge in fourth.

As well as the 20-year-old former Stirling Albion striker’s quartet, Andy Rodgers and Liam Allison also scored for Shire.

Keith Murray and Stuart Ritchie netted for Preston.

Gretna left Yarrow Park with a 2-1 win over struggling Selkirk.

Rob McCartney’s late goal sealed the points after Ricky Millar had cancelled out Richard Murray’s opener for the Raydale Park side.

Angry Selkirk manager Garry O’Connor said: “We had more than enough chances to win that.

“That was a game that we didn’t deserve to lose but when you are down towards the bottom this is the kind of thing that happens.”

Blair Lyons salvaged a point for BSC Glasgow on his debut after David Brown had edged Cumbernauld Colts in front at Recreation Park.

Mark Batchelor was red carded for Colts midway through the second half.

Vale of Leithen earned a point at Edinburgh University.

Blair Atkinson scored for the visitors after Scott McRory-Irvine edged the students in front.

Hawick Royal Albert warmed up for the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 defeat against Stirling University at Albert Park.

Danny Ashe was on target for Shelley Kerr's team.

Hawick boss Dean Shanks told us: "We had the chances to win the game and at this level you have to take them."