Twice Haws hit back

In the Super League there were mixed returns with a good away point for Hill of Beath but Dundonald lost and there were wins for Lochore Welfare and Crossgates Primrose.

Lochee United 2,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2.

THIS was always going to be a tough start for the Haws against a Lochee side who have been impressing in their pre-season games but twice they came back to take a deserved point.

The visitors were shocked in 15 minutes when United took the lead following a corner when the marking could have been better, but they were soon finding holes in the Lochee rearguard with Lewis Elder posing real problems for the Dundee team.

The equaliser came in 35 minutes when Stephen Forbes’ free-kick was perfect for Elder and he bulleted a header past the ‘keeper.

Lochee were a handy looking side though and they continued to create chances after the break and in 55 minutes they went ahead when Michael Perrie’s challenge saw a penalty awarded and Stuart Hall was given no chance from the spot.

There were chances at both ends after this but the key moment came in 85 minutes when Elder was floored in the box and he got up to convert from the spot and earn the draw.

Haws boss Kevin Fotheringham was happy with the result, considering he was three players short of his normal squad: “Lochee are always tricky opponents and we were a few guys light, but the team battled hard and were worth the point.

“I was delighted for Lewis Elder, he has started the season well for us scoring seven goals in friendlies and two at Lochee.

“Now we have to look to build on that in the two home games we have this week.”

Newtongrange Star 2,

Dundonald Bluebell 0.

A BITTERLY disappointing result for the Bluebell against the team who were spared relegation due to Kelty Hearts’ decision to leave the junior scene.

Bluebell, with six players missing for varying reasons, started the game well enough and had a few decent openings and Scott Lawrie’s free-kick hit the post and the rebound hit Barry Sibanda and flew over.

But in 33 minutes Bluebell went behind when a magnificent 30 yard shot flew into the top corner to give them get a break lead.

Dundonald went out for the equaliser in the second period by adopting a 3-4-3 formation but they just could not fashion openings and Newtongrange kept probing away and a second goal gave them something really tangible to defend.

Dundonald kept going forward but a goal just would not come for them and they left the Lothians pointless.

Boss Stevie Kay was disappointed with the show: “While we were short of several players, we lacked intensity and did not create any really good chances. That has always been a hallmark of our play but it was not there at all at Newtongrange.

“We will have to knuckle down and look to get some points on the board this week.”

Craigroyston 1,

Lochgelly Albert 1.

THE Berts should have returned over the Forth Road Bridge with all three South Division points.

Craigroyston have been investing in their side and they certainly started the game well enough but in three minutes Chris Ireland went through for Lochgelly and lobbed the ‘keeper but the ball bounced inches wide.

Then Martin Rennie had a free-kick well saved by the ‘Royston ‘keeper and then he shot wide from a really good position.

The home side had seen plenty of the ball without working Lee Wilson but a minute from the break the Albert ‘keeper was picking the ball out of the net when the Lochgelly marking let them down at a corner.

Lochgelly sent on Rikki Cooper and Joe Kirby for second-half and they immediately made an impact and there were chances for the Berts to level but the goal did not come until 77 minutes when Stevie Page’s well placed shot hit the net.

Cooper came close to a second for the Berts but in the closing minutes Craigroyston broke away and Wilson had to make a fine save to ensure a draw.

Livingston United 0,

Crossgates Primrose 5.

AN emphatic win for the new look Crossgates line-up which impressed a good travelling support at Livi.

The game was quite even in the early stages but Primrose had the balance of possession and there were a couple of good half chances for the visitors.

But two goals in a minute before the interval turned the game in favour of the Humbuggers.

The opener came in 33 minutes when Liam Devaney got the first Primrose league goal of the season with a neat finish and within a minute Mark Wilkie slotted in number two.

Crossgates started the second period strongly and they put the game to bed in 52 minutes when a Livi defender turned the ball into his own net.

The fourth came in 72 minutes when Craig Paterson finished well and Primrose went nap six minutes from time when Ali McDonald hit the target.

A great win for Primrose and they go to the top of the South Division after week one.

Comfortable win for Kelty

Kelty Hearts 3,

Stirling University 0.

HEARTS continued their East of Scotland League Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable win over Stirling University at Central Park.

Stirling found the going tough from the start and it was not long before Kelty were putting them under pressure and in one raid Brian Ritchie collided with the Uni ‘keeper who had to be substituted.

And it was the replacement who were to keep Hearts at bay for quite a long time with a string of good stops but Ritchie saw a header hit the post and stay out and then Scott Dalziel’s effort was well saved.

Total domination but no goals for the home side at the break and in the second period new signing from Newtongrange Star, Errol Douglas could not believe one of the saves the sub’keeper pulled off.

Stephen Husband’s free-kick brought out another good save but with 20 minutes left the deadlock was broken. Taylor McKenzie’s free-kick was parried by the ‘keeper by Dalziel following up headed home.

A McKenzie cross in 78 minutes opened the door for sub Archie Campbell to net number two and ensure a home success.

Campbell scored his second and Kelty’s third with four minutes left to wrap things up and book a quarter-final tie with Preston Athletic.

Kelty player/manager Thomas Courts tweeted at the end of the game: “Lads dominated from start to finish and on another day would have had a bigger score margin to show for their efforts. Big one next (v Lothian Thistle in the Scottish Cup Qualifying first round at Kelty)”.

Lochore Welfare 2, Dundee North End 1.

A SUPERB second-half performance from Lochore gave them all three points and a great start to their North Division programme and they did it with ten men.

Taking on a team that was in the top half of the table throughout last season was always going to be tough for the home side but they opened the game well and posed early problems for North End.

But in ten minutes a Lochore’s Scott Warrendar was caught with a man racing into the box and he was adjudged to have committed a professional foul.

The penalty was converted after Warrendar was sent off but the ten men kept their shape and the wily James Adam always looked capable of posing the visitors problems with several chances being missed.

Lochore continued to show good discipline and got to the break just a goal adrift and in the second period started to ask more questions of the North End rearguard and they were rewarded when they got a penalty of their own with 20 minutes left when sub Kearyn Hicks was hauled down Adam slotted it away.

The Dundee side were struggling now and the gallant ten kept battling on and in the second minute of time added on sub Hicks became the home hero when he flashed a header into the net to give his team the win.

Chairman John Kirkland said: “What a game. The team, even with ten men, was always creating chances and they deserved the win which gives us the start we wanted.”

FIXTURES: Wednesday, McBookie.com East Super League: Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Kennoway Star Hearts, Jeanfield Swifts v Dundonald Bluebell (6.45pm).

Saturday, Super League, Dundonald Bluebell v Penicuik Athletic, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Forfar West End. McBookie.com South Division, Crossgates Primrose v Craigroyston, Rosyth Recreation v Lochgelly Albert. McBookie.com North Division, Dundee Violet v Lochore Welfare (all games 2.30).

Scottish Cup qualifying first round, Kelty Hearts v Lothian Thistle (2.30).