Bad day for clubs

That came from Lochgelly Albert as both Super League teams lost at home.

Meanwhile in the seniors Scottish Cup qualifying round, Kelty Hearts lost at home to Lothian Thistle and finished with nine men.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0,

Forfar West End 1.

AFTER losing an early goal Haws dominated possession but they just could not break down a resolute West End defence in this Super League game at Keirs Park.

Looking to build on Wednesday’s win over Kennoway Star Hearts, Hill of Beath, still short of players through injuries, had to include two teenagers (15 and 16) on the bench, and they were shocked in five minutes when Forfar took the lead.

The visitors took confidence from this and created several half chances and really the home side did not create many openings.

The second period saw a different Haws and they started to put a lot of pressure on West End but the visitors were defending in big numbers and space was at a premium in the Forfar box.

A Lewis Elder effort clipped the bar as the hosts started to turn the screw and Lee Reid then went close.

Forfar were happy to soak up the pressure and when Aaron Hay saw his effort saved by the ‘keeper it was clear it was not going to be the Haws’ day.

Manager Kevin Fotheringham was very frustrated by the performance: “The start was horrific, we gave away a bad goal after only a few minutes and it gave Forfar something to defend.

“The longer the game went the deeper they defended and we just could not get the breakthrough we needed.

“After the win over Kennoway this was a blow but hopefully we will have a few players back for coming fixtures.”

Dundonald Bluebell 1,

Penicuik Athletic 3.

AFTER their midweek success at Jeanfield in midweek Bluebell were confident of collecting another three points against Penicuik at Moorside but they came up against a tough Athletic side.

The visitors started the game well and clearly were going to be hard to subdue but Dundonald managed to have a lot of the ball.

The first goal is always important and it came for Penicuik eight minutes before the break when a long punt out of defence set their right winger away and when he cut inside his pass was perfect for the ball to be slotted home from close range.

Bluebell started the second-half well and had a couple of chances to square things but a bad second goal from a home point of view, in 81 minutes, gave them a mountain to climb.

A goal-kick started things and the ball was played from midfield to the Penicuik right-back who surged forward and his low cross was tapped in from close in.

Worse was to follow for the home side two minutes later when a situation was not cleared and a shot from 18 yards crept in at the left hand post.

Bluebell kept battling and were awarded a penalty in the closing seconds when Barry Sibanda was hauled down, which Adam Moffat converted, but it had no effect on the result.

Bluebell boss Stevie Kay was unhappy at the goals conceded by his team: “After the good midweek win we were looking to do well in our first home game but we were punished for slackness.

“The three goals were bad from our point of view, but also we never really asked enough of the Penicuik defence.

“So it was self inflicted for we had enough possession without causing them enough problems.”

Rosyth Recreation 0,

Lochgelly Albert 2.

ROSYTH made life difficult for the Berts in this South Division fixture but the Albert ground out a great result.

There was a blow for Lochgelly in five minutes when striker Chris Ireland went down in a challenge and broke his collarbone with Rikki Cooper replacing him, and it was not long before Albert were heading towards the Recs’ area.

Joe Kirby’s header went close but the youngster put the visitors ahead from a Miller assist in 24 minutes.

There were other chances for Lochgelly before the break with Martin Rennie going clean through and failing to score and then Ryan McEwan’s lob went just over.

In the second period Rosyth came more into the game without testing Lee Wilson and the Rosyth ‘keeper made a fine save from a Cooper free-kick on the hour mark.

Rosyth had a good chance in 71 minutes but Wilson saved well and a minute later the Berts were two up.

Rennie showed a fine piece of skill by getting the ball down and firing a 20 yard screamer into the roof of the net.

Rosyth kept trying to come back into the game but they were kept at bay and the win pushes the Albert into third top spot.

Crossgates Primrose 2,

Craigroyston 3.

AFTER their fine South Division win at Livingston Primrose were brought back down to earth at Humbug Park by the Edinburgh side.

Two late goals saw Craigroyston win the points after Crossgates had led.

Primrose started the game brightly and were a goal to the good in 11 minutes through a penalty conversion by Craig Paterson.

There were other chances for the hosts and the visiting ‘keeper made a couple of good stops and really Crossgates should have been more than one goal up at the break.

However, in the second period Craigroyston started to look more dangerous and in 55 minutes the7 levelled things.

But within two minutes Mark Wilkie restored Crossgates’ lead and they could have had a third but for a good save from the Royston ‘keeper.

However, in 75 minutes the visitors levelled the game and then with only a minute to go they grabbed the winner, which was a little harsh on Primrose.

Dundee Violet 1,

Lochore Welfare 0.

LOCHORE showed in Dundee that they will be no pushovers in the North Division this season.

Violet are fancied to be among the title chasers but they found the going really tough against the Welfare.

There were not a lot of clear chances in the early stages of the game but Gary Inglis made a fine stop to keep Lochore level.

The visitors had a couple of half chances but none were taken and before the break Inglis made another two good saves.

The second period saw Violet up their game and they kept probing the Lochore defence and in 65 minutes they made the breakthrough with an angled drive.

Lochore went close twice late on but Violet held on to take the three points.

Lochore chairman John Kirkland was not downhearted with the result: “We maybe did not threaten them as much as we would have liked but we competed well although over the 90 minutes Violet deserved to win.”

Kelty Hearts 0,

Lothian Thistle 1.

A DISAPPOINTING result for Hearts as they fell again to Lothian Thistle in the Scottish Cup.

There was nothing in the game but indiscipline in the second period saw Kelty reduced to nine men and Lothian grabbed a late winner.

The first period saw both sides attack strongly and Scott Christie made a great save for Hearts before at the other end Stephen Husband got clean through for Kelty but was denied by the ‘keeper.

Murray Carstairs was the first Hearts player to be red carded when he picked up a second yellow for what seemed an innocent enough clash with the Lothian winger and it saw Thistle able to apply more pressure.

However, Hearts saw the Thistle 'keeper make a great save from Shaun Greig’s header.

When Kenny Adamson was red carded for a tough challenge on the half way line it gave Thistle a real advantage.

But the nine men were holding on well until the third minute of stoppage time.

A corner was not properly dealt with and a close in header won it for Thistle.

Hearts player/manager Thomas Courts felt that his side was unlucky to be reduced to nine men: “I did not really think there was a bad challenge in the game but even with ten men we created chances and forced their ‘keeper into good saves.

“Clearly a disappointing result but we will have to take it on the chin and be ready for Saturday’s game with Eyemouth.”

Fixtures: Tonight (Wednesday) McBookie.com East Super League: Dundonald Bluebell v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (6.45pm).

Saturday: McBookie.com East Super League, Camelon v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Forfar West End v Dundonald Bluebell. McBookie.com South Division, Oakley United v Lochgelly Albert, Rosyth Recreation v Crossgates Primrose. McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v Arbroath Vics. East of Scotland League, Kelty Hearts v Eyemouth United (all games 2.30).