Mind the gap: Kelty comeback keeps unbeaten record going but Crossgates lose at home

There had been fears that the game wouldn’t go ahead due to heavy rain – both Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Lochgelly Albert saw their matches postponed – but the Newtongrange pitch was in excellent condition. 

Elsewhere the Bluebells edged out Jeanfield, Crossgates lost at home and Welfare were hit with a very late equaliser in their basement battle.  
 
Newtongrange Star 2 Kelty Hearts 4
HEARTS showed their battling qualities to come from behind for a win that leaves them 23 points clear at the top of the Super League table, albeit nearest challengers Bonnyrigg have six games in hand. 
Newtongrange made a poor start to the season but have picked up points recently so it was clearly not going to be an easy task to get another win on the board for the Central Parkers.
And the early stages of the game saw both teams create chances and it was the hosts who took the lead when a nice move down the left saw the Hearts rearguard caught out and after two shots were blocked the loose ball was turned into the net from close in.
Stunned by the set-back Hearts started to push forward strongly and the equaliser, when it came, was a tremendous finish. 
A long ball was headed down and Craig Thomson met it first time in the inside right position and the ball flew high in to the net.
That was the way it stood at the break but Star started the second period well and they went ahead with another spectacular finish.
The ball arrived down the Kelty left and a first time 18 yard angled volley gave Kyle Marley no chance whatsoever.
So the title chasers needed to show character to get back in to the match and it came from a set piece which was floated into the Star box and there was Murray Carstairs to head home.
It was all about Kelty now and a nice move saw play switched from left to right and when the ball was crossed there was Brian Ritchie to head home from around 10 yards.
Hearts were on the move constantly and the killer fourth goal came from the penalty spot when Thomson converted to add another three points to the Kelty tally.
 
Jeanfield Swifts 2 Dundonald Bluebell 3
IT WAS a battling win for the Bluebell in Perthshire which cemented their fifth spot in the Super League table.
More importantly the win took them 15 points clear of second bottom Jeanfield and 14 ahead of third bottom Newtongrange.
Dundonald started the game well and Brodie Gray put them in front with a well placed 18 yarder but Swifts came back at them and they levelled in eight minutes.
It was all Bluebell though and on the half hour Barry Sibanda powered a header past the ‘keeper to put them back in front. 
And five minutes from the break the Moorside striker ran through and rounded the goalkeeper to make it 3-1 for the visitors.
Then there was drama when Sibanda chased a long ball and got to it before the ‘keeper outside the Jeanfield penalty area. 
The Swifts stopper crudely took him out and was red carded by the referee.
That should have been game over and Bluebell looked to build on their man advantage. 
They certainly had the chances to grab a fourth goal but were denied by some brave defending by Jeanfield.
The goal would not come and they were made to sweat when the home side's 10 men netted. 
It led to a nervous closing few minutes but Bluebell held on to win.
It took them on to 28 points and boss Stevie Kay was delighted to win a tricky fixture. 
He told Times Sport: “It takes us that bit closer to ensuring our future in the top division but really it should have been more emphatic.
“We seemed to think the job was done when they were down to 10 men and we did not play as well as we had against 11 men.
“Nonetheless it was a good win and it is a shame we are without a game this week due to Musselburgh being involved in a Scottish Cup replay.”
 
Crossgates Primrose 1 Edinburgh United 3
A VERY disappointing result for Primrose who made too many errors in defence to take anything from this South Division game at Humbug Park.
The pitch stood up well to the morning deluge and was perfectly playable, if a little heavy, and the home side started the game very positively against the capital side.
After a couple of good raids they grabbed the lead in nine minutes when Liam Forbes was in the perfect spot to slam the ball past the ‘keeper after a nice piece of football from Crossgates.
United started to adapt well to the conditions and they got level on the half hour when a rash tackle in the Primrose box saw a penalty slotted away.
This put Crossgates on the back foot and Edinburgh started to create some good  chances. 
It was no great surprise when they took the lead in 37 minutes when the home defence was caught out by a good ball into the box.
Primrose needed to get to the break without further damage but in the second minute of time added on at the interval United stretched their lead to 3-1.
In the second-half Crossgates defended better and also had a few chances but the United ‘keeper was in good form and they just could not get the second goal which would have opened the game up.
The result leaves Primrose stuck in 11th spot on 14 points from 17 games and needing a positive result to boost their confidence.
 
Lochore Welfare 2 Forfar Albion 2
A GOAL well in to time added on denied Welfare the chance to get off the bottom of the North Division table.
The two sides at the foot of the division clashed at Central Park in Crosshill and Lochore were the better side throughout the basement battle.
However, a couple of lapses in concentration cost them dearly although they should have had the game tied up long before the 90 minutes and injury time were up. 
Lochore started the game confidently and put pressure on Forfar. 
The reward for that positive play was a fortunate goal with an Albion defender turning the ball into his own net to put the home side in front.
It was one way traffic and in 20 minutes a volley from Jamie McGuire put Welfare two goals to the good.
Forfar came back into the game and before the break they pulled one back but Lochore were worth their interval lead.
Welfare could have stretched their lead further but had a set back when they were reduced to 10 men, although they continued to defend solidly.
The game was held up for a spell and the referee allowed plenty of time added on. Just as it looked as if Lochore would hang on for the three points, they conceded a goal in the ninth minute of added on time to leave the Welfare deflated.
 
Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Camelon v Kelty Hearts, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Penicuik. McBookie.com South Division, Easthouses Lily v Crossgates Primrose, Pumpherston v Lochgelly Albert.
McBookie.com North Division, Kinnoull v Lochore Welfare (all games 2.15pm).