Bluebell back on goal standard

While they were going down to Linlithgow Rose, there were outstanding wins for Dundonald Bluebell, Crossgates Primrose, Lochgelly Albert and Lochore Welfare.

In the East of Scotland League Kelty Hearts were easy winners in the Borders.

Linlithgow Rose 3,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0.

HAWS came unstuck after two players picked up red cards at Linlithgow and ended up well beaten.

Yet in the first half hour Hill of Beath were very much in control of things and they had a couple of good chances with Lewis Elder a worry for the home side.

However, just when the first 45 minutes looked to be going to end goalless a Linlithgow shot took a wicked deflection and flew into the net.

Haws started the second period well enough but in 55 minutes Aaron Hay and John McCulloch lost their discipline and both were red carded.

In 65 minutes Rose made their two man advantage tell when they grabbed a second goal but still Hill of Beath battled on and the home side struggled to create many good chances.

But in the 88th minute they grabbed the third and that was that with Haws’ hopes of taking something from this fixture ruined.

Manager Kevin Fotheringham was annoyed that his players lost their discipline at a key time: “We did very well in the first-half and the goal was a really bad break but losing Aaron and John was just too much to deal with in this sort of company.

“The lads never gave up but it was always damage limitation playing two men short.”

Dundonald Bluebell 4,

Camelon 1.

AFTER two disappointing results this was Bluebell back in top form to strengthen their position in the top five of the Super League.

The Scottish Junior Cup defeat at Thorniewood was particularly hard to take but when Camelon pitched up at Moorside the finishing which was wild in the west became razor sharp as Camelon were put to the sword.

With new signing Archie Campbell in the ranks from Kelty, Dundonald started the game well and were creating chances from the very early stages and went ahead when Lewis McKenzie produced a trademark finish after being set up by Campbell.

There were opportunities to score again but before the break the Falkirk side came back at ‘Bell and levelled the game after the ball was carelessly given away by the ‘Bell.

If the home fans felt this was going to be another frustrating afternoon that all changed in the second period when the Moorsiders took complete charge of the game and went ahead when John Martin finished superbly after a one-two with Campbell.

Camelon were sticking to their plan to deny the Bluebell space but they found their defence getting pierced regularly and a third had to come and it was Callum Smith who got it be finishing well with a powerful header from Ross Drummond’s cross.

Camelon were struggling now and defending desperately to keep the buoyant ‘Bell out but their efforts failed and the fourth came from Colin Wilson following Drummond cross and a Smith assist.

Brodie Gray hit the post and McKenzie the bar as Bluebell dominated

The win puts Bluebell in clear fifth spot six points clear of sixth top Broxburn and only two short of second top Lochee United.

Dundonald boss Stevie Kay was a much happier man than he was after the Thorniewood game: “Our finishing was not good at all the previous week but against Camelon we were so much sharper and clinical.

“The second-half performance was superb and we scored some cracking goals and played some really good football and it is great to get back on that winning trail.”

Lochgelly Albert 4,

Kirkcaldy YM 1.

A VERY comfortable three South Division points for the Berts as the bottom of the table Kirkcaldy side struggled to compete.

From the first whistle it was Albert who were pushing forward and chances were flowing for them and in 18 minutes they took the lead when Calum Geddes slotted the ball home.

Within a minute Liam Forbes made it 2-0, but in 23 minutes YM hit back when a shot came down off the Albert bar and the ball was scrambled into the net.

Young Joe Kirby was proving a real handful for YM and twice he got clean through on the ‘keeper and saw the last line pull off good saves and at half-time Lochgelly were just 2-1 in front.

The Berts continued to make chances after the break and in 51 minutes Rikki Cooper scored number three with a fierce shot and then Kirby latched on to a Josh McPhie free-kick to make it 4-1.

McPhie then hit the YM bar and Kirby again saw the visiting ‘keeper twice deny him with fine saves but the win puts the Berts on 17 points in sixth top spot and with games in hand and side could close in on second top Edinburgh United.

Edinburgh United 1,

Crossgates Primrose 3.

A TRULY excellent Primrose performance against the South Division promotion challengers and totally convincing.

Crossgates made a great start to the game and won a lot of good possession in the middle of the park and took the lead in only 10 minutes when Jamie McNeish finished well.

United were trying to push Primrose back but they were struggling to find any weaknesses in the Crossgates make-up and in 33 minutes it was 2-0 when Mark Higgins fired the ball home after good play from the visitors.

Edinburgh tried to step up their game before the break but they found it very hard to create any good chances and at the interval Primrose were two to the good.

United started the second period a bit better and got one back in 66 minutes but Primrose were not for wilting and they started to find holes in the home defence.

There were chances to get the key third goal but good goalkeeping denied them but in 89 minutes Craig Paterson struck to ensure a very worth win for the visitors.

The result pushes Primrose on to 16 points from 11 games and they are just one behind the Albert.

Lochore Welfare 4,

Brechin Vics 0.

A FIFTH successive win for the Welfare and the result means that already this season they have surpassed last season’s points total in the North Division.

Welfare got a great start with a goal in ten minutes with Joe Kinninmonth tucking the ball away from ten yards and there were other chances before James Adam grabbed number two in 43 minutes after a good home move.

Ahead at the break Lochore went for more and scored again in 55 minutes when Adam rounded the ‘keeper and knocked the ball home after good work by Ben Rolland.

Vics seldom threatened and when sub Adam Doig scored from close range after 76 minutes after good work by Rolland it was game over.

The result puts Lochore into eight spot in the table on 15 points and in sight of a top six spot which is pleasing manager Andy Healy: “It was a good performance from start to finish with the young players taking a grip of the game and creating good quality chances.

“To pass last season’s points total already shows the progress we are making and we hope to announce soon the contract extensions of more of the good young players we have.”

Hearts hit nine in another goal romp

Tweedmouth Rangers 0,

Kelty Hearts 9.

ANOTHER comfortable win for Kelty Hearts in their East of Scotland League sojourn and they sit top of the table.

Tweedmouth have been struggling this season and conceding a lot of goals saw this game was certain to see the Hearts’ goal machine in full swing.

Right from the kick-off it was all Hearts and the Rangers defence was working overtime to try and stem the flow but there was nothing they could do to stop Brian Ritchie opening the scoring.

Play was flowing towards the Tweedmouth end and when Murray Carstairs added a second it was clearly going to be a case of how many.

To their credit the Berwick based side kept working hard but when Stuart Cargill added a third the game was really over as a contest.

Hearts were flooding forward and Cargill scored again to make it 4-0 and there was little the home side could do to stop the visitors.

Conrad Courts added number five before Ross Philp made it 6-0.

The hosts were struggling to get in touch with the Kelty rearguard and young ‘keeper Grant Henderson replaced Scott Christie but all the action was at the other end and Jason Penman added number seven before a late double for Ritchie brought the tally to nine and completed the striker’s hat-trick.

The win sees Hearts on 27 points from their nine games and Lothian Thistle are on 21 from their seven games.

Hearts boss Thomas Courts tweeted after the game: “Another professional performance and I am pleased for Brian with his man of the match performance.”

Saturday’s fixtures: East Super League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Camelon. East of Scotland Cup, Musselburgh Athletic v Crossgates Primrose, Dundonald Bluebell v Blackburn United. South Division, West Calder United v Lochgelly Albert. North Divison, Lochore welfare v Scone Thistle. East of Scotland League, Preston Athletic v Kelty Hearts (all games 2pm).