ONLY two local sides saw action on Saturday due to the monsoon conditions of the early hours and for Kelty Hearts it turned out to be another difficult day.

Meanwhile it was a good day for Dundonald Bluebell who earned a Super League point at Carnoustie.

Kelty Hearts 1,

Jeanfield Swifts 2.

AFTER their Scottish Cup shock against Kilwinning, Hearts were expected to get back on the winning track when they met Super League strugglers Jeanfield at Central Park.

However, Kelty again lost the first goal and struggled to get back into the game and they were reduced to ten men for the third match in a row and at the end of the day suffered their first league defeat.

Hearts started confidently and had Jeanfield on the defensive but they just could not get the ball into the net although Jordyn Sheerin’s header hit the underside of the bar but stayed out.

Swifts started to push forward and got the break they were looking for in 15 minutes when Stephen Husband’s mistake saw Jeanfield break forward and front man was fouled in the box and the penalty was converted after Murray Carstairs was sent packing.

Kelty tried to force their way back into the game were unable to manage the goal that they needed and when Swifts added to their tally in 19 minutes the home side were in trouble when a fast break saw the depleted Hearts back line beaten for pace.

The Swifts ‘keeper produced three great saves before the interval to maintain his team’s two goal lead.

Shortly after the break the last line did it again when he blocked Stuart Cargill’s low low shot after he had broken the off-side trap then the bar came to the rescue of the visitors.

However, credit to Kelty they kept working hard and when Craig Thomson slotted the ball home with a fine individual finish from the edge of the box they had the chance of a point.

There were a couple of chances but the ball would not run for them and the game ended with Jeanfield getting an unexpected three points.

The win for Bonnyrigg over Fauldhouse reduces Hearts’s advantage to 23 points with seven more games played so the ball is still very much in Kelty’s court with Boness 20 behind.

Carnoustie Panmure 2,

Dundonald Bluebell 2.

A TOUGH game for Bluebell but they more than earned a point from this hard fought Super League fixture on Tayside.

To be fair the home side started the better unit and after a couple of dangerous raids they took the lead in 18 minutes when the Bluebell defence did not close down the finisher quickly enough and his shot crept into the corner of the net after taking a deflection.

Three minutes later things got worse for Dundonald when a long ball into the box was knocked down and the ball was squeezed over the line at the far post.

Bluebell were on the back foot but they were soon getting forward and in 28 minutes they got one back when Craig Wedderburn got on the end of a corner and headed strongly past the ‘keeper.

Bluebell could sense that the Carnoustie defence was hesitant and in 37 minutes they were level when Lewis McKenzie held off a challenge and placed a lovely curling shot past the ‘keeper from 10 yards.

The second period saw both teams seeking the key third goal and every set piece saw Bluebell threaten and then Lewis McKenzie and Calum Rarity hit the bar.

There were a number of opportunities for the visitors but no more goals.

Panmure made some good breaks but James Lennox was not overworked.

The longer it went the more it looked like Bluebell would win it but the goal just would not come.

It leaves Bluebell on 29 points, with eight games left and within touching distance of ensuring their place in the Super League and a top five finish can be achieved.

Boss Stevie Kay was disappointed with the way his team started the game: “We were caught out twice by fairly simple balls played around our box and fell two down, but the lads came roaring back into the game and once we got level I felt we should have gone on to win it.

“There were several close things but we just could not get the third goal which would have clinched it.

“There is no doubt that over the 90 minutes it was two points dropped.”

Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Dundonald Bluebell v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com South Division, Pumpherston v Lochgelly Albert, Crossgates Primrose v Stoneyburn (all games 2.30pm).