OVERNIGHT rain cut the junior card to three matches on Saturday and Fife and Lothians and East of Scotland Cup action was top of the agenda.

And Kelty Hearts, Dundonald Bluebell and Lochgelly Albert could be pleased with their performances.

Kelty Hearts 2,

Blackburn United 0.

HEARTS warmed up for their Scottish Junior Cup fifth round tie with Camelon with a solid performance in this Conservatory Converters Fife and Lothians tie at Central Park.

Blackburn are one of the front runners in the South Division this season and they gave a Kelty side, which featured new midfielder David Banjo a hard game.

United came to Kelty to work really hard and their tactics made sure that there was not a lot of space in the midfield area for the hosts to use.

The early stages saw Blackburn happy to funnel back and plug any gaps but hitting on the break they did have a couple of good raids.

Hearts had one or two good openings and in 20 minutes they took the lead when Scott Gates’ cross was met by Banjo and he squeezed his shot past the ‘keeper.

That strike separated the teams at the interval Kelty should have stretched their lead with Stephen Husband firing in a fierce shot which came close Stuart Cargill breaking through and forcing a fine save from the United ‘keeper and Banjo hitting the side net.

In the second period United’s strategy changed somewhat and they started to come forward more positively but Hearts kept them out and the key second goal came through Paul Currie who slotted the ball away with a fine header after a penetrating home raid.

Blackburn never gave up but there were chances for Hearts to extend their lead although the third goal would just not come.

Hearts player/boss Thomas Courts was delighted with the day’s work: “This is a competition we want to do well in and it was pleasing to get through with a couple of good goals and one for David Banjo on his debut.

“Blackburn are a decent hard working side and it was really competitive tie.”

Dundonald Bluebell 4, Whitburn 2.

AN entertaining D J Laing East of Scotland tie at Moorside with Bluebell having to stage a second-half comeback to win the game.

Whitburn are not the force they once were but they opened the game well and posed a few problems for Dundonald but in 15 minutes the home side went ahead.

Ben Anthony picked up the ball after a good home move down the right and curled the ball wide of the ‘keeper with a superb finish.

Bluebell were shocked though on the half hour when Whitburn, who had a couple of good front men, worked a decent move and the ball was fired into the top corner of the net.

There were chances for Bluebell to regain the lead but at the break the score was level and minutes into the second period the home fans were stunned when Whitburn took the lead with another quality finish.

Bluebell rolled their sleeves up and started to pose the visiting defence a lot of problems and the equaliser came three minutes later when Sean Grady set up Greg Meikle and he cleverly squared the tie.

Whitburn were really struggling to contain Dundonald and the home side went ahead when Anthony went on a good run and drew the ‘keeper and squared for Meikle to tap home.

The visitors were not for giving up though and then home defence had to remain on the alert.

But with 15 minutes left the important fourth goal came through a blistering 25 yard rocket shot from midfielder Scott Orrick.

Bluebell boss, Craig Morrison, was just delighted to see his side back in action and was particularly pleased with what he saw in the second-half: “You could see why Whitburn are doing well in the South Division for they had a couple of dangerous forwards and we needed to step up our game after the break to clinch the tie.

“Our shape was good and we created a number of excellent chances and scored some good goals so it was a pleasing performance overall.

“It is a quality cup competition and it is good to be in the hat for the next round.”

Boness United 4,

Lochgelly Albert 1.

THE Berts went to take on the former East Super League champions in the same competition and put on a very decent show.

Albert started the game well and contained the early Boness raids well and then started to pose the illustrious hosts a few problems.

In the 22nd minute the Berts grabbed the lead through a fine finish from Ryan Robertson and this stunned Boness who hit back to level things five minutes later.

For long spells after this Boness struggled to break the Albert defence down and with Robertson a livewire in attack Lochgelly hopes were high.

But then in 43 minutes United struck to take the lead and then two minutes in to time added on at the break they struck again to give the half-time score an unfair look about it from a Berts’ point of view.

The second period saw Albert continue to give Boness plenty to think about and Robertson was so unlucky to hit a fine shot which hit the inside of a post and then come out.

Albert continued to look capable of scoring and United only grabbed the killer fourth goal with 60 seconds left on the clock.

A very creditable performance from the Lochgelly team against a top Super League outfit.

‘Scottish’ tie for Hearts at Camelon

IT is fifth round day in the ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup and Kelty Hearts will be looking to make the last eight sides when they head for Camelon.

The mid-table Super League team have already been beaten by Kelty this season so Hearts will be pre-match favourites.

Camelon are never easy to beat on their own ground but it would be a shock if they were not to come back across the river with a replay at least.

Hearts’ boss Thomas Courts is looking forward to the test: “Camelon are a solid Super League side and it will be a hard game but we will have a strong squad available, including all our new recruits, so we will be going there with the target of making the quarter-finals although we know we will have to be at our best.”

SATURDAY’S fixtures, ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup fifth round, Camelon v Kelty Hearts.

McBookie.com East Super League, Fauldhouse United v Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

McBookie.com South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Livingston United. McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v Forfar Albion.

Conservatory Converters Fife and Lothians Cup, Haddington Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell (all games 2.15pm).