Winters' warmer as Robbie's brace lights the burners on Rossvale's title tilt

Even at the age of 40, the former Dundee United and Aberdeen frontman stole the show in Saturday's 2-0 triumph over his home town team of East Kilbride Thistle.

He netted both goals to secure a ninth successive league win that moves Rossvale 10 points clear at the Central Second Division summit.

And they are starting to take on the mantle of champions-elect, even at this relatively early stage of the season.

Team boss Martin Lauchlan's plea for calm heads becomes much more difficult to put across when one sees the controlling influence that Winters brings in terms of movement, craft, guile and finishing prowess.

One or two "dummies" he sold the tormented EK defenders bordered on the outrageous.

And his coolness in and around the penalty area was never better demonstrated than approaching half-time when he took possession just inside the box and sublimely scooped the ball over goal-keeper Chris Treacy for the game's opener.

And the veteran went on to clinch his side's three-point haul by expertly converting a 71st-minute penalty kick awarded after a searing run forward by teenage striker Yami Misango - watched by Senior and Junior scouts - was abruptly ended inside the area by Adam Boyle's despairing challenge.

The Jags were left ruing the fact they had not heeded a light-hearted warning from Winters in the build-up to this clash of promotion rivals.

He had hinted: "They should look out because I should be a lot fresher and in better fettle for the game on account of not having played in a couple of weeks."

Delighted gaffer Lauchlan said: "The team played really well last week in the 4-1 win over Port Glasgow and I have no shortage of fringe players pushing for a jersey.

"But I still thought it right to put Robbie straight back in against EK and he more than justified his selection.

"He was a real class act out there and was unplayable at times, yet he is not a big-time Charlie type.

"He is at his happiest mixing with the guys in the dressing room and having a laugh or two. He has been absolutely great for this club and I just hope he decides to play on after this season if we do manage to go up."

Thistle gaffer Alan Wardlaw admitted afterwards he had no complaints about the result

He said: "Rossvale had a bit more pace and determination about them as well as the extra bit of quality in Robbie.

"But I felt we missed several clear-cut chances that would have made it a closer contest.

"To be disappointed at not getting anything out of a game against the league leaders on their own pitch is an indication of the progress made at East Kilbride Thistle.

"And we will continue to aim for the second promotion spot until it is arithmetically out of our reach."

Only four other West Region games survived the wintry elements much to the delight of Carluke Rovers, who took full advantage of the playable 4G surface at their John Cummings Stadium to crucially clamber out of the Central First Division drop zone thanks to scoring braces from Ian Watt, Ryan Smillie and Gordon Murphy bringing a 6-1 rout of Ashfield.

Elsewhere, Ayrshire District League leading pair Kilwinning Rangers and Ardrossan Winton Rovers further strengthened belief it is down to a two-horse race for the title honours after racking up convincing victories.

Calvin Kemp (2), Michael Hart, Ryan Agnew and John Bradford were on target as the Buffs crushed Kello Rovers 5-1.

And veteran midfielder John Johnston took the scoring honours in netting a hat-trick at Winton Park to go along with Ryan Caddis (2), own goal and Craig Breen counters in a 7-2 hammering of Muirkirk, for whom Liam Martin and Mark Eadie (pen) found the net.

Super First Division relegation battlers Ardeer Thistle had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 0-0 stalemate at home to Rutherglen Glencairn.

And they missed out on a win after experienced hand Ross Ballantyne's tamely-hit first-half spot-kick was saved by Ardeer goalkeeper Paul McCann.