East Kilbride 0 Caledonian Braves 0: Kilby extend Lowland League lead despite derby draw

East Kilbride extended their lead at the top of the Lowland League, despite being held to a goalless Lanarkshire derby draw by Caledonian Braves.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium at K-Park on a bitterly cold afternoon, but both sides will rue big opportunities at the end of the first half, with Keir Samson hitting the post for the hosts and Braves' Jamie Watson failing to pounce on a loose pass by on-loan Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly inside the box. Nathan Flanagan also hit the bar for EK late on.

Mick Kennedy's Kilby - who drew a balnk for the first time in the league this season - have now gone two games without a win after a shock 3-1 defeat to Albion Rovers in their last outing.

But the draw has edged them six points clear of nearest rivals Hearts B - who hammered Edinburgh University 12-0 last night - with a game in hand. Braves stay in 11th place in the table.

New signing and ex-Accies midfielder Lewis Spence made his debut from the start for Kilby, while fellow new boy John Robertson started on the bench. Braves made one change as Jamie Watson came in for the injured Ross McNeil, formerly of EK.

The first big chance of the game fell to the visitors inside six minutes when Braves pounced on a mix up in the Kilby defence and the ball fell to John Guthrie on the edge of the box. His thumping drive was so close it had Braves fans cheering an opener for a few seconds, but his strike had whistled just past the post and into the side netting.

Kilby responded with Aaron Arnott drilling a deflected strike into the side netting, before Nathan Flanagan beat two defenders and cut inside to strike straight at Braves goalkeeper Bernie White.

Dylan MacDonald fired a strike just wide of the post in 34 minutes