Currie Star Yellows picked up an important win thanks to a Luke Westmoreland double, as fellow Division 4 strugglers Edinburgh South succumbed to a tenth defeat of the season at Balerno High School.

The first half was a cagey affair where tactics played a big part. Currie Star, despite having the lions share of possession, failed to unsettle the visitors, who were looking to stifle them with a defensive 4-1-4-1 approach.

However goals either side of the interval from Westmoreland gave the hosts a firm grip on proceedings - and a further two goals put the game beyond the reach of the Patriots.

On a chilly winters morning, the game started with a flurry of good chances. Josh Boyle fired a clever cut-back over the crossbar for the away side before Westmoreland failed to guide the ball into an empty net, from a tight angle albeit, following a mix-up at the back.

The Currie striker continued to threaten however, and he slashed an effort narrowly off target a few minutes later.

The quality level took somewhat of a dip after the first five minutes, and the game settled into a slower tempo, where first half chances came few and far between. 

It was the Yellows who continued to create what few chances there were - Sam Watson and Max Neary both trying their luck from distance; but needless to say the game remained goalless.

Henry Millar created his side’s best opportunity of the half with a clever turn into the box - and his goanward strike had to be cleared behind by Watson, somewhat unorthodoxly. It was a good spell for South, and Jack Mackintosh hit a low strike sweetly following the resultant corner, but off target.

The breakthrough would come, just minutes before the interval, thanks to Westmoreland. The ball in behind was well-weighted for the forward but it was the miscommunication between goalkeeper and defence that let him latch on to it. From that point onwards, with keeper Dylan Simm stranded, he did the rest - executing a deft chip to to give his side a deserved lead at the break.

The second half started in a similar vain to the end of the first, and Westmoreland really should’ve put his side two to the good from close range early on. 

A trialist on off the bench for Edinburgh South gave them a brief spark, and he game close to finishing off a quick counter attack, but he sliced his effort off target.

Westmoreland did add his second on 42 minutes in what was really a goalkeeping calamity for substitute Francisco Lanza. The striker rolled the ball towards him - but the keeper couldn’t sort his feet out and the ball dribbled by him.

The home side would add another just a minute later, despite the best efforts of Ibrahim Mohammed, who threw himself in front of the initial effort - but the rebound fell perfectly at the feet of Logan Wilson, who drilled in his first goal of the season from close range.

Jay Johannesson tested debutant goalkeeper Dylan Hindle with a good strike from distance, but the shot-stopper made sure his clean sheet remained intact with a smart stop.

The fourth and final goal came ten minutes from time. A free-kick swung in from deep right was met by Callum Pearce at the back post, who guided beyond Lanza to seal the deal.

Edinburgh South pushed forwards in numbers as the game reached the final minutes, but they couldn’t even muster a consolation goal, and so in the end, Currie Star would take all three points by a handsome, and perhaps slightly unfair margin.