SATURDAY could be the day that the title door was fully opened to Kelty Hearts.

While Hearts were recording a hard fought East Super League win over Boness, Dundonald Bluebell were beating their nearest challengers Bonnyrigg Rose and through it extended the local team's lead to 20 points.

Boness United 1,

Kelty Hearts 2.

A SUPERB battling performance from Hearts which has really put them in the box seat in the race for the McBookie.com East Super League title.

Boness are still a proud club and they went in to this game determined to show Kelty who the bosses were.

And for long spells United posed Hearts plenty of problems and it took some fine goalkeeping by Kyle Marley to keep the home side out.

Indeed, early in the game he came to the rescue when in a United raid the referee spotted an infringement and pointed to the spot but Will Snowdon’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Marley.

Hearts had to defend solidly and the visitors were happy to get to the break level.

Kelty started the second period well and they grabbed the lead in 48 minutes when Archie Campbell produced a fine finish from close in after a corner.

United were getting ever more frustrated and things got worse for them when Craig Thomson fired an excellent free-kick past the ‘keeper on the hour mark.

Boness were right out of sorts now but got a lifeline when another penalty was awarded to the home side with nine to go and this time Marley was given no chance by Robert Sloan.

It set up a tense finish and in one late raid the ball was headed over by Boness from very close in.

However, a superb three points for Kelty which brought out this Tweet from Hearts player/boss Thomas Courts: “A dogged performance, well done to the lads at a difficult venue. Boness pushed us all the way and we had to fight to the end.”

Kelty are now 20 points clear of Bonnyrigg after their defeat at Moorside with five more games played. While Rose have the games in hand they will find it hard to close the gap in the last three months of the season.

Dundonald Bluebell 3,

Bonnyrigg Rose 1.

TITLE challengers Rose found Bluebell in determined form at Moorside and in search of another three point Super League hall.

Bluebell started the better side and Craig Wedderburn headed over from close in before Lewis McKenzie saw a shot cleared off the line.

Then McKenzie was hauled down outside the box in 11 minutes and from the free-kick and Barry Sibanda made an expert job of curling the ball into the net.

Then shortly before the break Brodie Gray brought out a brilliant save from the Rose ‘keeper Dundonald started the second period strongly and when Gray’s shot was not held by the ‘keeper Calum Young fired in number two.

Bonnyrigg regrouped and came back Bluebell but some fine work by James Lennox kept them out with a penalty save but them a rare slip by the Dundonald last line saw him spill the ball and it was turned into the net to give Bonnyrigg a lifeline.

They could have levelled soon after when a free header was spurned only a few yards out and they paid for that miss when Sibanda was fouled in the box and McKenzie's expert finish ensured the points were staying in Fife.

The result pushed Bluebell into sixth spot on 24 points and boss Stevie Kay was delighted: “I am really proud of the performance the lads put on, we really took the game to them in the first period and had several good chances.

“Bonnyrigg are a good side and we had to maintain our levels of concentration and although we gave away an avoidable goal it was a thoroughly deserved three points.”

Musselburgh Athletic 1,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1.

HAWS boss Bobby Wilson was hoping to fly back from holiday and go straight to Olivebank for this Super League test but problems at Geneva Airport saw him stranded on the tarmac.

But his backroom unit and team did not let him down and they fought back well from being a goal down.

Haws forced six corners early in the game but Musselburgh started to come into it and they took lead in only eight minutes and for a spell were in charge.

However, the visitors started to make their presence felt and Tam Hampson had a couple of good chances which went close.

Then in 36 minutes the Haws were level when Rikki Dair got on the end of a lovely cross from a corner and his header flew into the net.

The second period saw Haws continue to defend solidly and create chances using their speedy wide players and there a few close calls for Musselburgh with Calum Adamson going closest to getting a second, but at the other end Stuart Hall made a couple of good stops to ensure a point for Hill of Beath.

They move on to 20 points from 17 games and lie in ninth spot and boss Wilson was happy with a point against a team who are hard nuts to crack at home: “It was a very frustrating day for me for I had it planned to fly home from Switzerland and go straight to the game but a baggage mix-up scuppered that.

“However, it was a solid performance and a very useful point.”

Lochgelly Albert 1,

Crossgates Primrose 1.

THE Berts blew a chance to put pressure on the top three South Division clubs by failing to convert possession into goals at Gardiner’s Park.

Primrose have been leaking goals recently and it has been costing them results but they defended solidly from the outset in this one.

Lochgelly opened the game by taking control of the midfield and they forced several corners without really putting pressure on the Crossgates rearguard.

Too often the set piece was cut out by the first defender and while the Albert defence was seldom under pressure too few clear openings were appearing for the home side.

A series of corners failed to produce a goal for the Berts and at the sides were level at the interval.

The second period saw more of the same with Lochgelly huffing and puffing around the Crossgates penalty area without really getting a telling shot away.

Then in 56 minutes Primrose broke upfield and when the Lochgelly defence got in a fankle Liam Forbes gleefully slammed the ball home.

Albert immediately regained possession but seldom fashioned out a clear chance.

The game was in the 92nd minute when John Ferguson cut inside and raced into the Primrose box where he was fouled.

Up stepped Craig Paterson to take the penalty and he confidently stuck it away to earn a draw.

It keeps the Berts in fourth spot but 12 behind leaders Blackburn United with a game in hand, and they are the visitors to Lochgelly this Saturday so a home win is vital.

Lochore Welfare 0,

Dundee North End 3.

NORTH End are in the top seven of the North Division but Welfare felt they could pose them problems at Crosshill.

The early stages of the game saw nothing really in it but just before the interval the Dundee side went ahead.

The second period saw Lochore create some good chances and they should really have scored but North End defended pretty well.

They were always dangerous going forward and two more goals gave them a clear cut win.

Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Camelon v Kelty Hearts, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Lochee United, Fauldhouse United v Dundonald Bluebell. McBookie.com South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Blackburn United, Pumpherston v Crossgates Primrose.

McBookie.com North Division, Brechin Vics v Lochore Welfare (all games 1.45pm).

Hearst v Haws again!

THE draw for the third round of the The Conservatory Converters Fife and Lothians Cup has paired Kelty Hearts with Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Like the Scottish Cup tie which is due on Saturday January 21 the tie is a home one for Hearts.

Meanwhile Dundonald Bluebell are at home to Musselburgh Athletic.