HILL of Beath Hawthorn made it through to the second round of the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday and Dundonald Bluebell again picked up full points in the East Super League while Crossgates Primrose rattled in five goals, but there were defeats for Lochgelly Albert and Lochore Welfare.

In the East of Scotland League Cup Kelty Hearts won well in their tie with Preston Athletic.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 5,

New Elgin 0.

THIS was as easy for Haws as the scoreline suggests with the Aberdeenshire side never really at the races in this Junior Cup first round tie.

The visitors came to pack the midfield and keep Hill of Beath out and they succeeded for the first 25 minutes.

However, after Daniel Watt curled a shot into the corner of the net all roads headed towards the New Elgin penalty area although they got to the break just one adrift with Lee Reid hitting the bar and Lewis Elder bringing out a fine save from the ‘keeper.

The second goal arrived in 55 minutes when Calum Adamson provided the cross and Elder netted from close in then in 70 minutes Adamson cut inside and let fly with a cross-cum-shot which flew into the top corner of the net.

With ten minutes to go a Stephen Forbes corner was spectacularly volleyed home by Shaun Leishman and in the last minute Watt sent Lee Schiavone clean through and he made no mistake to tie up a big win.

Haws boss Kevin Fotheringham was delighted with the way his team dealt with the tie: “To be fair New Elgin came to stifle the game and deny us space but the lads created some good chances and hit five good goals so I can have no complaints.

“We are in the hat for the second round but now it is back to trying to collect Super League points this Saturday at Sauchie.”

Dundonald Bluebell 1,

Sauchie Athletic 0.

A VERY tight game but Bluebell created plenty of chances and were well worth all three Super League points, although the winner did not come until time added on!

But still the Moorsiders created a lot of good openings and Calum Smith twice could have given the home side an interval lead before Barry Sibanda brought out a superb save from the Sauchie ‘keeper with a bullet header.

In the second period Dundonald continued to have the bulk of the ball and Brodie Gray saw the ball hit the outside of a post but Sauchie did likewise then sub Greg Meikle missed from close in.

The Sauchie ‘keeper made good saves and as the game went into the last ten minutes it looked as if the visitors were going to achieve their aim of taking a point but in the 92nd minute the chance fell for Lewis McKenzie to fire home the winner after it was swung into the box and the ‘keeper could not deal with the challenge of Smith and Colin Wilson. The home fans were delighted with the win that keeps the ‘Bell in fifth spot, only two points behind league leaders Lochee United.

‘Bell boss Stevie Kay was a bit frustrated by the way his team failed to get more goals though: “Sauchie are a well organised team but we created some very good chances and failed to take them.

“However, we kept at it and were always creating chances and it was great to see Lewis put that one away in the closing seconds.”

Lochgelly Albert 1,

Edinburgh United 2.

THE Berts would be wondering how they lost this South Division game, the first at Gardiner’s Park since the pitch was relayed in the summer.

Lochgelly dominated possession without really creating a lot of clear cut chances against the league leaders, who were content to sit back and soak up pressure and hit on the break.

Indeed, it was with their first shot at goal in 24 minutes that gave United the lead after a good run and cross created the opening and soon after Albert ‘keeper Lee Wilson made two good saves.

Albert had plenty of pressure but few clear openings and Edinburgh help their lead at the interval and had the ball in the net again in 49 minutes but the ‘goal’ was struck from the referee’s book for off-side. In 73 minutes the hosts came close to an equaliser when John Duffy’s effort went inches over, and a few minutes later Ian Miller saw the United ‘keeper save well from his header.

Then Martin Rennie missed a gilt edged chance for the Berts when he blasted over only a few yards out and Albert were to pay for the miss when United went up the park and scored again with only four minutes left.

In the closing second Lochgelly pulled one back when Joe Kirby finished well after a good run by the youngster, but it was too little too late and the Gardiner’s Parkers now find themselves in mid table, albeit with games in hand.

Stoneyburn 1,

Crossgates Primrose 5.

PRIMROSE got back to winning ways in the South Division with this comfortable success at lowly Stoneyburn.

Stoneyburn started the game quite solidly and Crossgates, while seeing plenty of the ball, struggled to get many shots on target.

Indeed, the first goal did not come until the 33 minutes when Mark Higgins finished well to give his team the advantage.

This seemed to open the floodgates and two minutes later Dale Allan slotted in number two and five minutes from the break Andy Watt made the interval score 3-0.

Stoneyburn came out for the second period looking to get one back but five minutes into the half another Watt finish put the game out of sight.

Quarter of an hour later Mark McKenzie made it 5-0 and in the closing minutes the hosts pulled one back but it made no difference to the final result.

Lochore Welfare 2,

Kinnoull 5.

A DISAPPOINTING show from the Welfare who were always under pressure from an eager Kinnoull side in this North Division fixture.

To be honest Lochore started the game well enough and had a couple of half chances but when Kinnoull took the lead on the quarter of an hour mark it seemed to effect the home confidence.

They kept working way and could have got back into it but they were definitely missing the influence of the injured James Adam and in 33 minutes went two down.

That was the way it stood at the break but eight minutes into the second period Kinnoull went three up, only for Lochore to pull one back in 58 from a fine Joe Kinninmonth finish.

This seemed to fire up the visitors and with 12 minutes left they went 4-1 up but to the Welfare’s credit they pulled another back through Ethan Anderson although in the closing seconds Kinnoull went nap.

Hearts win well in League Cup

Kelty Hearts 4,

Preston Athletic 0.

HEARTS cruised through into the semi-finals of the East of Scotland League Cup with this emphatic win over the Midlothian side.

Kelty started positively and created a couple of good early chances but some good goalkeeping kept them out.

Preston were defending well but in 10 minutes Hearts got the breakthrough through an expert finish from Errol Douglas.

Hearts went to quickly kill the game but Preston defended well and created a couple of half chances without worrying Scott Christie in the Hearts goal.

Then on the half hour Scott Dalziel stretched the lead with a neat goal and there could have been more for the home side.

Athletic struggled to put Hearts under any real pressure with Stephen Husband controlling the midfield and in 63 minutes Brian Ritchie killed the tie with number three.

Preston kept working hard but seldom threatened and a fourth goal in the last minute from come-back man, Jordyn Sheerin, put the icing on the cake for Kelty.

Hearts boss Thomas Courts tweeted after the game: “The boys are in a good run of form, today’s goals were a delight to watch. Pleasing to be in a semi-final at this stage of the season.”

Saturday’s fixtures, East Super League, Boness United v Dundonald Bluebell, Sauchie Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Armadale Thistle, Crossgates Primrose v Kirkcaldy YM.

North Division, Lochee Harp v Lochore Welfare. East of Scotland League, Stirling University v Kelty Hearts (all games 2.30pm).