Horror start sees Bluebell stall

Bluebell were looking to move three points nearer their target against Arniston Rangers, at Moorside, but lost goals very early in the game, and while they fought back they went down to a shock defeat.

Elsewhere there were wins for Kelty Hearts, Lochore Welfare and Lochgelly Albert.

Dundonald Bluebell 2,

Arniston Rangers 3.

A TRAIL of errors saw Dundonald completely out of this vital East Premier game inside half an hour.

And now they need to buckle down in their two remaining games this week and clinch the two wins they need to move upstairs.

Inside the first ten minutes things were going strangely wrong for Bluebell as the normally reliable defence got into all sorts of fankles and from one of them Arniston went ahead.

Shortly after they went two ahead when a long ball was not picked up and good work by a Rangers striker saw the ball slotted past James Lennox.

Then a goalkeeping error saw a third slip into the net but from that point on things changed.

Ben Anthony missed a good chance before he latched on to Calum Young’s cross and slotted the ball away to make the half-time score 1-3.

From the start of the second period it was all Dundonald and in 50 minutes Young supplied the cross and Anthony did the needful.

Five minutes later the game should have been level but Jamie Gilfillan, normally a reliable finisher, got into a good position but the ‘keeper made a good save.

Then came a crucial moment. Young was fouled in the box and up stepped the normally reliable converter of spot-kicks, Scott Lawrie, but he saw the ‘keeper dive to save. Bluebell kept at it but a goal just would not come.

The result left Bluebell and Jeanfield tied on 58 points on Saturday night and Lochee four behind with a game less played. So the job the Moorsiders have is simple, beat Oakley United at Blairwood Park on Wednesday and go to Dundee Violet on Saturday and win. That would guarantee promotion. Anything else and it will be a play-off.

Bluebell boss Craig Morrison could not believe what he saw in the first 25 minutes: “We made mistake after mistake in the opening minutes and to be fair to Arniston they took their chances and we were in trouble.

“We missed a lot of good openings and when Scott Lawrie saw his penalty saved I thought this really is one of those strange days.

“There were some late chances to grab a point but really it was a game we should have won.”

He added: “We know what we need to do and there is no margin for error. We need to be strong and go to Oakley and win on Wednesday and then do similar at Dundee Violet.”

Tayport 0,

Kelty Hearts 3.

HEARTS moved close to their goal of Super League winners-up with this competent win over bottom side Tayport.

There was little in the game early on with the hosts desperate for points and indeed, they created an opening or two themselves.

But Hearts got the key opener after only two minutes and it was Scott Gates who fired home

There were some good chances for Kelty as they tested the ‘keeper but Tayport tried hard to get back in to it.

That goal separated the sides at half-time and in the second period it was the visitors who kept pressing forward but some decent openings were squandered.

Hearts needed a second goal and it eventually came when Stephen Husband fired the ball wide of the ‘keeper.

Tayport were not for giving up and they did pose a few problems for Kelty but as the clock started to run down Cargill slotted in number three when Gates created the chance with a lovely pass.

The result means that Hearts need to win two of their last three games to pip Linlithgow Rose for the second top spot.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0,

St Andrews United 2.

WITH only 11 available players Haws had to mix and match to get a side out and it was a pretty disjointed show from them in this Super League game played at Keir’s Park on Friday night.

With Rikki Dair, Sean Leishman, Colin Wilson, Adam Moffat and Cameron Smith all out the thin red line was stretched and the hosts struggled to create many really good chances.

In the first period neither side looked dangerous and it seemed that goals would be at a premium.

There were none at the interval with neither ‘keeper having anything serious to do but on the hour mark St Andrews took the lead.

A free-kick was whipped into the home box and a United striker got free to send a glancing header into the net.

Ten minutes later they got a second when an almost repeat situation saw another header land in the Haws’ net.

Greg Smith did see a shot saved but the home side never looked like scoring.

The result leaves them lying in ninth spot and now they must look to end the season on a high at Kelty on Saturday.

Haws boss Bobby Wilson said: “There were too many good players missing for us to create a decent attacking performance.

“Centre-backs John McCulloch and Kevin Connors did well but we just could not put together any really good moves.

“It would be good to go to Kelty on Saturday and finish the season well and we should have four or five back for that one.”

Lochgelly Albert 4,

Rosyth Recreation 2.

ALBERT made it nine games unbeaten as they finished their South Division programme with a good win over Rosyth which could give them fifth spot in the table.

The Berts made a cracking start to the game and took the lead in four minutes when Gregor Colquhoun tucked the ball away after the goalkeeper had blocked a shot.

There were other chances for Lochgelly but on the half hour the Recs levelled when home ‘keepe Chris Gay couldn’t get to a corner after picking up a knock.

He was replaced by Lee Wilson and it was Lochgelly who finished the half well and John Ferguson fired home their second from close in.

Rosyth were aware that a win for them could allow them to overhaul the Berts in the table and they were awarded a penalty in 58 minutes when Wilson was adjudged to have nudged a forward in the box but the ‘keeper dived to save.

This fired up the Albert cause and a Jason Penman header put them 3-1 ahead.

However, within two minutes Rosyth pulled a goal back but it made little difference to the result.

Berts finished strongly and Penman cut inside his marker and fired a lovely shot into the net to tie up the points.

Albert are on 34 points from their 22 games and only Easthouses Lily can overhaul them.

Scone Thistle 2,

Lochore Welfare 3.

SHORT of regulars Lochore went to Perthshire with a makeshift unit but came back with all three points.

Lochore started brightly enough but just could not get a goal and in 20 minutes they were shocked when their trialist ‘keeper saw a penalty given against him for nudging a forward in the Welfare box.

It was converted but Welfare finished the half well and Lee Celentano saw the Scone ‘keeper pull of a super save from his finish and then Paul Duncan hit a post.

Scone went in at the break lucky to be a goal ahead but in 50 minutes the visitors were back in it when Celentano’s corner fell to James Adam and he finished sweetly.

Then soon after Adam’s corner was perfect for player/coach John Cusick to head past the ‘keeper to put Lochore ahead.

Thistle were at sixes and sevens and a third soon came when Adam fired home.

Scone kept probing and with a few minutes left pulled one back but it was purely cosmetic with the points heading back to Fife.

The result gives Lochore 37 points from 26 games and if they win their last two games this week they can finish in the top six.

John Cusick was delighted with the performance and the result: “We were well short of regulars but the lads came back well after the beak and scored some good goals, and I was delighted to get one of them.

“We want to go out to win these last two fixtures and grab sixth spot.”

Fixtures: Wednesday, McBookie.com East Premier League, Oakley United v Dundonald Bluebell (7.15pm). Caravan Converters Fife and Lothians Cup, semi-final, Kelty Hearts v Penicuik Athletic (7.30pm). McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v Newburgh (7.15pm).

Saturday: McBookie.com East Super League, Kelty Hearts v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. McBookie.com East Premier League, Dundee Violet v Dundonald Bluebell. McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v Lochee Harp (2.30pm).