TWO clubs are still in the Scottish Junior Cup and it was almost all three of Saturday’s third round contenders.

Kelty Hearts won a tight battle at Clydebank and Hill of Beath Hawthorn will have to try again this Saturday after a postponement of their match with Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

But Dundonald Bluebell came so close to earning a replay with Cumnock.

Clydebank 0, Kelty Hearts 1.

THIS was always going to be a very tough Scottish tie for Hearts but they produced a performance full of resilience to make the hat for the fourth round.

There was a good crowd for this one and Bankies went about trying to get an early opener and put the East Super League champions under pressure.

The game survived a late inspection after the wet weather of the second half of the week and Bankies tried to conjure up a goal but the Kelty defence was ready and waiting.

The hosts had a few half chances but Kyle Allison was up to anything that came his way and Hearts started to pose Clydebank problems with Scott Dalziel and Calum Smith awkward customers for the hosts to deal with.

Clear chances were not plentiful but in 42 minutes Kelty went ahead. Hearts were awarded a free-kick well outside the box and Stephen Husband unleashed a fierce drive which hit the net after glancing the underside of the bar.

Clydebank were stunned but they started the second period with a lot of determination but ran up against a solid Kelty rearguard.

Allison had to clear up a couple of situations but at the other end Conrad Courts and Devon Jacobs came close to getting a killer second. Stuart Cargill saw one of his efforts cleared off the line.

In the closing stages Bankies tried to get the ball forward quickly but Hearts kept their discipline to edge the home side out of the competition.

Cumnock 3, Dundonald Bluebell 2.

THIS was a dramatic Scottish tie with the much vaunted hosts knowing they were in a real battle.

The weather was a little wintry but no one noticed as this pulsating tie saw unbeaten in ten Dundonald pose the home side loads of problems.

Bluebell came out of the blocks fast and Calum Young headed just over, then came the opening goal. Scott Orrick’s throw was collected by the striker and his shot gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Cumnock came back at Dundonald and they threatened twice before the leveller came on the half hour when a fine pass opened up the visiting defence and James Lennox was given no chance with a good finish.

But before the break Dundonald were back ahead when Orrick was fouled in the Cumnock box and Young made an expert job of the penalty conversion.

However, on the interval whistle a slack piece of work allowed the home side to draw level with a free header at the back post.

A pulsating first period and Dundonald knew they had to start the second well but it was Cumnock who went ahead. A good pass into the box was not picked up by the visiting defence and the ball was squeezed past Lennox.

Bluebell went at it to try and get back into the game and Young fired over and there were other half chances but Cumnock closed ranks and defended well to send Dundonald out of the tournament.

Bluebell player/boss, Craig Morrison, was proud of his team’s performance: “We knew it would be a very hard game but we started well and posed them a lot of problems.

“We were not as effective in the second-half as the first but there were a lot of positives to take from the tie. Now we need to focus on the Premier League. ”

Arbroath Vics 2, Lochore Welfare 5.

ANOTHER excellent Welfare performance which pushes them into joint second top spot in the North Division.

Lochore started the game well and they took the lead in five minutes when a Ryan Blackadder corner curled into the box and a home defender knocked the ball over the line.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 when a Bryan Donnelly cross was perfect for Daniel Watt to head home from close in.

But Vics started to come back into the game and Lochore last line Gary Inglis pulled off a good save but in 43 minutes he could do nothing about a free-kick which curled past him.

Ahead at the break was what Lochore wanted and they started the second-half well and Scott Renton converted another Blackadder corner. The wide player was posing lots of problems with his trickery and another fine cross was perfect for Craig McGuire to slot home number four.

Arbroath came back again with ten minutes to make it 4-2 but with five minutes left on the clock a McGuire header was fumbled by the Vics’ ‘keeper and Calum Deas bundled in the fifth to leave Lochore three points behind leaders Blairgowrie.

Player/coach John Cusick was very pleased with what he saw: “We started the game really well and scored two early goals which set the pattern.

“The likes of Glenrothes have games in hand over us but we have the points on the board and it is good to be in the mix at this stage.”

Pumpherston 2, Lochgelly Albert 1.

YET another loss for the Berts but they really should have taken something from this South Division fixture.

A glue pot surface did not make things easy for the players and the first-half saw little in the way of good football from either side.

The Albert had a couple of chances but they were unable to break through with Stephen Bathgate forcing a fine save from the Pumphy ‘keeper.

No goals at the break but Albert started the second-half with Craig Bateson on for Connor Schiavone and he hit the net in 63 minutes after taking Bathgate’s pass and firing a well placed shot past the ‘keeper from 18 yards.

Lochgelly hoped to build on this but in 72 minutes Pumpherston levelled things when Berts’ ‘keeper Lee Wilson was just beaten to a ball into the box.

A second yellow for Scott Gibson saw the midfielder sent-off and almost immediately a free-kick was headed home at the back post to five the home side the lead.

But Albert fought back and then Pumphy were reduced to ten and late on Calum Wylie appeared to be tripped in the box but the referee waved play on.

Saturday’s fixtures, The ETHX Energy Scottish Junior cup third round, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Ardrossan Winton Rovers. McBookie.com East Super League, Kelty Hearts v Bonnyrigg Rose.

McBookie.com East Premier League, Dundonald Bluebell v Thornton Hibs. McBookie.com South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Easthouses Lily. McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v East Craigie (all games 1.45).