Four wins with some style

Meanwhile in the East of Scotland League Kelty Hearts hit double figures for the second time this season against Eyemouth United.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Carnoustie Panmure 1.

ANOTHER late winner for Haws but a very useful three points which takes them into the middle of the East Super League.

Carnoustie were, as expected, well organised and hard working opposition but really Hill of Beath should have been out of sight at the break.

In the opening phase of the game the Haws created several good chances and Lee Schiavone got clear of the Panmure defence only to see the visiting ‘keeper make a fine save then Calum Adamson’s header went close for the home side.

When Schiavone saw the Carnoustie last line make another excellent save the home fans were thinking was this not going to be their day.

But on the hour mark the breakthrough came when Daniel Watt struck from close in after the Panmure defence had failed to clear a loose ball in their box.

Carnoustie came roaring back into the game and in 75 minutes a well placed header squared things and the Haws had to up their game to get a win.

They put pressure on Panmure and Adamson shot wide when in a very good position, but made amends in the second minute of time added on when Watt set him up and he finished well to tie up the points.

Haws boss Kevin Fotheringham was delighted with the result: “We had a few guys out but we attacked and defended soundly and there were chances there to have made the result more emphatic.

“We had 16 year-old Jake Mitchell it at left-back and another couple of the Blue Brazil Boys Club lads on the bench and Jake did really well. I did not think the link with BBBC would be having to supply so many players this early, but it shows what a great move by the club it was.

“That is three wins out of four so we have to look to keep the momentum up when Broughty visit us this Saturday.”

Lochgelly Albert 3,

Harthill Royal 2.

THE Berts had to fight back from a two goal interval deficit but they played very well in the second period to clinch another three South Division points.

The heavy overnight rain saw the Gardiner’s Park have to pass a 9.30am inspection, but Albert made a bright start to the game and Joe Kirby missed from close in only two minutes.

However, Harthill started to take command and took the lead in 25 minutes when a trip in the Berts’ box saw the penalty converted.

Three minutes later Royal struck again to double their lead and all of a sudden things were looking bleak for the home side and then Harthill hit the post before Albert ‘keeper Lee Wilson made a great save.

However, Craig Bateson should have done better than shoot over from only six yards out.

The second-half saw Harthill hit wood inside two minutes but then the game changed and it was the Berts’ Josh McPhie who hit the bar from a free-kick on the hour and three minutes later Kirby’s fine run and cross gave Martin Rennie the chance to pull one back with a diving header.

Soon after Albert sub Rikki Cooper went on a brilliant solo run which saw him fire in the leveller and it was game on now.

Lochgelly and Royal both created chances but the key moment came in the second minute of time added on when McPhie hit the bar, and when the ball came down, Rennie was there to bundle it over the line and give Lochgelly full points and move them on to 14 and fifth top spot.

Crossgates Primrose 3,

Armadale Thistle 3.

THISTLE can’t be enjoying their trips to Central Fife for after shipping four at Lochgelly two weeks ago they were hit for three by Primrose, but on this occasion they escaped with a South Division point.

The former Super League club made a good start to the game and grabbed the lead in only eight minutes with a good finish.

Primrose were struggling to get back into the game and they conceded another in 24 minutes.

The home fans were fearing a bad defeat but the Crossgates fighting spirit shone through and in 32 minutes Andy Watt showed clinical finishing to pull one back.

It was all about the Humbug Parkers now and somehow Thistle kept them out until in the 45th minute when the home pressure saw the harassed Armadale side give away a penalty which Chris Hughes converted to make the interval score 2-2.

To be fair to Thistle they regrouped at the break and came out a much better side for the start of the second-half and had a couple of chances before they grabbed the lead in 59 minutes.

So Crossgates again had to fight-back and that they did but it looked like an equaliser was going to elude them until Jamie McNeish fired in the leveller with a minute to go to put Primrose on 13 points in sixth spot in the table.

Lochore Welfare 1,

Coupar Angus 0.

A THIRD successive win for the Welfare and one which moves them on to the 12 point mark and into the middle of the North Division table.

Coupar Angus have been having a decent season but Lochore started the game well and Aaron Woods beat three defenders and then sent his chip just over.

Coupar Angus pushed forward themselves at times but the home defence kept them down to long range shots and at the break there were no goals.

Ten minutes into the second period the home team went ahead when David Byrne’s 25 yard drive went into the top corner of the net giving the the Coupar Angus ‘keeper no chance and there were other opportunities for the hosts to seal the points with Adam Doig going close and then Logan Donaldson’s effort being well saved.

The visitors tried hard to get back into the game in the closing minutes and a good Coupar Angus move ended with the home team’s Trialist ‘keeper pulling off a fine save to ensure a the third successive win in all competitions.

Manager Andy Healey felt it was a well deserved success: “We had a few players out for this one, including influential James Adam, so it was always going to be a hard game.

“We had to defend well as a team but we also had some good chances, so over the piece it was a deserved three points and a good all round performance.”

Hat-tricks galore at Eyemouth

Eyemouth United 0,

Kelty Hearts 13.

ONE of Kelty's biggest ever wins and it meant that in two games against the Borders side they have hit 24 goals.

The result maintained Kelty’s 100 per cent record and sees them only a point off leaders Preston Athletic with two games in hand, although Lothian Thistle have also won all their games.

Hearts had hit the hosts for double figures at Kelty and started very assuredly and took the lead with a typically good finish from Stuart Cargill.

United’s slow defence was in all sorts of trouble against the fleet-footed Hearts attack and Jordyn Sheerin made them pay with a second soon after.

Chances were flowing for Kelty and Scott Taylor-McKenzie was up with his attack to blast in number three and before the break Scott Dalziel helped himself to a brace to make the score 5-0.

Dalziel completed his hat-trick early in the second period, then Taylor-McKenzie made it 7-0 as the home side started to tire.

Cargill struck again before Dalziel grabbed his fourth of the game and then Taylor-McKenzie grabbed his treble.

As Eyemouth fell apart Number 11 came from an own goal before Cargill completed his hat-trick and he wrapped up an easy win with a late goal.

Manager Thomas Courts said: “It was a professional performance and we played some very good football.

“Our build up play was excellent and it was another good three points. The result Lothian Thistle produced in the Scottish Cup in beating Stirling Albion underlines the challenge we face in trying to win the title and we have to ensure that we keep on winning .”

Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Broughty Athletic, Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundonald Bluebell. McBookie.com South Division, Stoneyburn v Lochgelly Albert, Pumpherston v Crossgates Primrose. Mc.Bookie.com North Division, Newburgh v Lochore Welfare.

East of Scotland League Challenge Cup, Newton Stewart v Kelty Hearts (all games 2.30pm).