HILL of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell had good wins but Lochgelly Albert are looking for a new manager after a heavy home defeat and Lochore Welfare also lost.

Crossgates Primrose were unlucky to lose on penalties at Musselburgh in the East of Scotland Cup while free-scoring Kelty Hearts made it 10 East League wins in a row at Prestonpans.

Hill of Beath 4 Camelon 0

AFTER a goalless first period the Haws took complete control of this Super League game and could have won by more.

The first 45 minutes saw Hill of Beath control possession and inside the first 20 minutes Daniel Watt and Calum Adamson went close.

Watt brought out a good save from the ‘keeper then Adamson’s effort went just wide. At the other end Stuart Hall had little to do.

The second-half saw much of the same with Haws in control and the opener came in 60 minutes. Greg Smith fired a free-kick into the box and Lewis Elder reacted first to fire the ball home. Five minutes later it was 2-0.

Watt got on the end of a good move involving Kevin Connor and Elder and clipped the ball wide of the ‘keeper.

The third came with 15 minutes left when Smith sent over a free-kick and Adamson nipped in front of a defender to head home. In the last minute Elder was floored in the box and got up to sink the penalty.

The result moves Haws up to ninth in the table and manager Kevin Fotheringham said: “We really took the game to Camelon and could have been two up at the break.

“The lads did not panic though and scored some cracking goals, but we need more of the same at Newtongrange this weekend.”

Dundonald 2 Blackburn Utd 1

AS expected Premier League side Blackburn made life tough for Bluebell in this East of Scotland Cup second round tie at Moorside.

While Dundonald had a lot of the ball, United’s sound defending and goalkeeping kept them in it until the final whistle.

Calum Smith was a problem for the visitors and twice worked the ‘keeper with good efforts. At the other end United had a few half chances.

The second period saw Dundonald continue to create opportunities but wayward finishing and good goalkeeping kept them out until the 77th minute when a sweeping ‘Bell move saw Lewis McKenzie finish in style.

Three minutes later Smith’s effort gave the ‘keeper no chance to double the lead, but Blackburn pulled one back with eight left.

Dundonald twice struck the United bar and post but the goal gave Blackburn renewed hope and it was a nervy finish for the home side.

Bluebell boss Stevie Kay said: “We knew they would be well set up and sat very deep but we had a good few chances to make the tie safe long before the first goal.

“The important thing is the spot in the next round of a good competition, although with the amount of the ball we had there should have been more between the teams.”

Musselburgh 1 Crossgates 1 (Musselburgh won 4-3 on penalties).

PRIMROSE were so unlucky to lose out on penalties to the Premier League side in this EoS Cup tie.

Right from the kick-off Crossgates were on top but the Humbug Park men missed a spot kick in only 10 minutes after a foul in the box.

Burgh took confidence from this and grabbed a half-time lead but in the second period Primrose stepped up and the hosts were looking a frustrated lot.

The leveller eventually came with a good finish from Andy Watt and there were chances for Crossgates to win it in normal time although Ashi Tufail, the Primrose ‘keeper, also made some great saves.

The shoot-out was on a knife edge but Burgh held their nerve to squeeze through with the Primrose scorers Chris Hughes, Dale Allan and Ali McDonald.

West Calder 4 Lochgelly Albert 0

A VERY poor Albert performance and after the game Berts’ boss Craig Ness, and his backroom team of Stewart McManus and David Sheach, resigned.

It has been a frustrating season for a side who started among the South Division title favourites but a string of poor results has seen them fall into mid table.

The Albert committee thanked Craig, Stewart and David for their work for the club and wished them success in the future.

But this game was typical of so many this season where the Berts should have been good enough to go out and beat one of the challengers only to deliver a very flat show.

Lochgelly had the better of the possession in the early stages without carving out a clear chance and in the 41st minute West Calder grabbed an interval lead with a free header from a corner.

The second period saw United on top but when a corner was not properly cleared a low shot made it 2-0. Albert never looked like getting back in the game and a third goal in 58 minutes killed it. Five minutes later the fourth came and it was damage limitation time.

Lochgelly are seeking a replacement as soon as possible and secretary Ian Patrick said: “We are still in with a chance of making the top two so we are anxious to get a replacement for Craig within the next week or so.”

Anyone interested should contact chairman Jock Kinnell on 07568505304.

Lochore Welfare 1 Scone Th 4

THE Welfare made a cracking start to this North Division game with a goal in the first minute but then it started to go wrong.

Seeking their fifth successive win, Lochore got a dream opening when James Adam fired in a spectacular goal from 30 yards. Joe Kinninmonth went close with an individual effort but Scone levelled in eight minutes.

The Perthshire team are in with a chance of the top two slots in the table and put pressure on the Lochore defence. Welfare ‘keeper Liam Valentine was alert while Aaron Wood went close for the home team.

However, five minutes from the break a free header from a free-kick gave Scone the interval lead.

Lochore’s Kinninmonth almost got a leveller and there were other openings but in the 71st minute Scone got the third goal and a fourth soon followed.

Andy Healy, the Lochore manager, said: “We certainly missed Kearyn Hicks’ influence at centre-half, but he is out for three weeks and then losing James Adam with an injury certainly did not help.

“However, we had chances and hit the woodwork twice so were very much in the game, although we lost a couple of bad goals.”

The Welfare have signed Ethan Anderson and Todd Arthur on contract extensions to June 2019.

Preston Ath 1 Kelty 4

KELTY know that Preston are one of their East of Scotland League title challengers and travelled to Pennypit Park expecting a harder game than of late.

However, they started strongly and in 15 minutes took the lead with a fine finish from Stuart Cargill. Scott Dalziel and Stephen Husband went close before Cargill struck again with a spectacular finish.

Athletic did not pose too many problems and with Errol Douglas on for Kelty soon after the break they looked very dangerous.

He fired in number three to make the points safe with a trademark finish in 66 minutes.

Hearts continued to dominate and with 11 minutes left Scott Taylor-McKenzie curled in a free-kick. Although Preston did pull one back it made no difference to the result and the visitors stay top of the table.

Manager Thomas Courts said: “Preston were much better than the last time we played them and could have a big say in where the title goes.

“We handled the much more difficult task than of late well though and Cargs took the first two goals superbly.

“The second-half saw us maintain our control and the only disappointment was conceding a late goal but over the piece a good performance, although unfortunately we have a free Saturday coming up.”

Saturday’s fixtures: East Super League, Newtongrange Star v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Carnoustie Panmure v Dundonald Bluebell. South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Craigroyston, Crossgates Primrose v West Calder United. North Division, Dundee North End v Lochore Welfare.

THE draw for the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup has handed the three local survivors tough tests.

The top tie is Hill of Beath Hawthorn against Ayrshire cracks Auchinleck Talbot at Keirs Park on November 25.

It’s Crossgates Primrose v Beith Juniors at Humbug Park, while Lochore Welfare are away to Forth Wanderers, a winnable tie but a very hard one.