THE junior football season got back into some sort of action on Saturday but the returns for the local clubs were pretty thin with only Crossgates Primrose winning.

And Kelty Hearts lost their East of Scotland Challenge Cup-tie at home to Threave Rovers to make it a black day for fans.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Lochee United 3.

A LATE goal saw Haws lose this Super League clash with Lochee but it was a game they should have taken something from.

Without Rikki Dair, Lee Reid and Calum Adamson, the Keirs Park resources were stretched but they grabbed the lead in 20 minutes when Jake Mitchell’s shot was cleared off the line and Aaron Hay, following up, found the net.

There were other chances for Haws to increase their lead but Lochee also had a couple of decent openings so at the break home fans were happy to be in front.

However, Hill of Beath made a horrible start to the second period and lost a goal in 46 minutes when no home defender picked up a United striker whose header flashed into the net.

Then three minutes later, a mix-up in the centre of the Hill of Beath defence, saw Lochee go in front.

Haws came back at Lochee and Lee Schiavone saw his effort cleared off the line and within 20 minutes the leveller came when Lewis Elder found Daniel Watt and his 20 yarder flew high into the net.

The home side went for all three points but were shocked with seven minutes to go when a diving header restored Lochee’s advantage but in the closing seconds there were a couple of real let-offs for Lochee but they held on to all three points.

Haws boss, Kevin Fotheringham, was disappointed with his side’s defending: “I felt that over the 90 minutes we were worth a point but the fact is that two of the goals conceded were really poor from our point of view.

“Yes we created some good chances but we have to defend better to get the wins we want.”

Dundonald Bluebell 0,

Broxburn Athletic 4.

A VERY disappointing Super League performance from the Bluebell against an attack minded Broxburn side.

Broxburn came to Moorside with a strategy which saw them prepared to hit effectively going forward and the Dundonald defence was not up to the mark on the day.

Bluebell opened the game reasonably well and had a couple of openings but fell behind when a penalty was blocked by home ‘keeper James Lennox and the rebound was slotted home.

Bluebell responded by Lewis McKenzie passing up a golden chance and a 30 yarder extended the Broxburn advantage before the break .

Then home side kept trying to get a goal after the break and Calum Smith saw a shot cleared off the line and then they had a penalty chance when Greig Meikle was pulled down in the box, but McKenzie failed to convert the spot-kick.

Bluebell kept searching for a goal but a third tied things up for Broxburn, and a fourth goal gave the visitors, who are now only three points behind Dundonald, an emphatic result.

Bluebell manager, Stevie Kay, was shocked by his team’s defending in this one: “Broxburn like to ask you questions and we had no answers.

“We simply gave them too much freedom and they took full advantage, a very bad day at the office for us.”

Crossgates Primrose 3,

Oakley United 0.

AN emphatic South Division derby win for the Humbug Park men and it could and should have been by a bigger margin.

Oakley have been recording some good results recently but they were always under the cosh in this one and in the early stages they had their ‘keeper to thank for remaining on level terms as Andy Watt’s presence posed them real problems.

And in five minutes there was nothing the ‘keeper could do as Watt fired home the opener after good leading up work by the hosts.

Oakley were at sixes and sevens at the back and ten minutes later the Humbuggers’ lead was doubled after a fine finish from Dale Allan.

It was all about Crossgates and Manderson in the home goal had very little to do as the play flowed towards the other end.

Some good work by the Oakley ‘keeper kept the margin to two at the break but the pattern continued after the interval and when substitute Mark McKenzie fired in a third on the hour it was game over.

To their credit Oakley kept battling away, but it was only a damage limitation exercise as Primrose continued to pose them problems and a couple of easy chances were squandered.

The result pushed Crossgates on to 23 points from 13 games, the same as Lochgelly Albert, whose game at Armadale was postponed.

Lochore Welfare 2,

Newburgh 2.

A SLIGHTLY disappointing result for Welfare who had hoped to build on their good run in the North Division with a win.

Yet Lochore made a cracking start to this game and had Newburgh pushed back for long spells.

To be fair to Burgh they defended excellently in the opening ten minutes as the home side swarmed all over them.

The opener came in 14 minutes with a really good finish from the edge of the box by Joe Kinninmonth, and then two minutes later the lead was doubled when Dean Ewing flashed the ball into the net from 20 yards.

Home fans were expecting a goal rush but it did not materialise although Kearyn Hicks should have scored from close in and David Byrne hit the bar, and gradually Newburgh came more into the game and in 33 minutes the visitors pulled one back when the home defence was caught out.

Welfare held their single goal advantage at the break and went out to increase it on the re-start and Ben Rolland hit the bar from 30 yards, but the Burgh defence started to keep them at bay and on their forays upfield the visitors certainly looked dangerous.

But really Lochore could have got a third before the leveller came in 68 minutes which put pressure on the home side.

They started to defend more assuredly in the closing stages and could have got the all important winner with Hicks seeing a shot hit the post.

The result puts Welfare in eighth spot in the table and manager Andy Healy was a little frustrated at not getting the win: “I felt we started really well and could have been three or four up before Newburgh’s first goal, but after that we lost our way for a spell.

“However, the chances were there to win it but on the day we just did not convert enough of them and some of our defending was not as good as it has been.”

Rovers deliver knock-out punch

Kelty Hearts 2,

Threave Rovers 2 (after extra time,

Threave win 5-4 on penalties).

TEN man Hearts were bundled out of the East of Scotland Challenge Cup by Borders side Threave after a penalty shoot-out.

Kelty were reduced to ten before the interval when Murray Carstairs was red carded for a ‘last man’ situation when he slipped, but before that the home side had opened the game well.

There were several good openings for Kelty and when Jordyn Sheerin converted from close in things were looking good for the hosts.

There were opportunities for Hearts to go further in front but they missed these and then came the dismissal.

The second period saw Threave come more into it but still Hearts had chances to get at least two in front but on the day the finishing was below standard.

However, it was Threave who were to score to take the game to extra-time with a good shot.

The gallant ten fought on but lost a second goal and were faced with having to mount a fight-back and they did just that and Scott Dalziel struck to forced the penalty shoot out.

And the conversion rate was impressive, although Hearts missed out on the next round through one failure from the spot through Ross Philp.

Manager Thomas Courts was disappointed for his men and tweeted: “Probably our most complete display of the season. Wanted that so badly for the boys but a cruel loss.”

Saturday’s fixtures: East Super League, Penicuik Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Broughty Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell. South Division, Easthouses Lily v Crossgates Primrose, Harthill Royal v Lochgelly Albert. North Division, Lochore Welfare v Dundee Violet (all games 1.45pm).

East of Scotland League, Lothian Thistle v Kelty Hearts (2pm).