Wins for Hill of Beath, Kelty and Crossgates

In the East of Scotland League’s King Cup Kelty Hearts chalked up another victory.

Jeanfield 0 Hill of Beath 1

THIS could have been a more convincing win for Haws with Swifts goalkeeper pulling off a series of saves to keep his team in the game.

Hill of Beath came out of the traps fast and inside 10 minutes Lewis Elder, Daniel Watt and Kevin Conner saw efforts cleared off the line. 

Jeanfield also hit the underside of Stuart Hall’s bar in a lively opening before Haws’ Calum Adamson was twice denied by the home keeper.

The home side were more of an attacking threat after the break but Hill of Beath still looked more likely to net and the key moment arrived in the 75th minute.

Sub Lee Reid latched on to an error by the home ‘keeper and lobbed him from 25 yards for a fine finish.

Adamson then saw a shot blocked on the line by what looked like a hand but the referee was unsighted and Haws claimed the win to move to 26 points, eight clear of third bottom Jeanfield.

Haws boss Kevin Fotheringham said: “The workrate was first class and we defended very solidly.

“Really we could have had the game sewn up in the first 10 minutes but credit to Jeanfield, their defence showed a lot of commitment to keep our efforts out.

“We have to look to using our games in hand to move into the top eight over the next few weeks.”

Bo’ness Utd 4 Dundonald 2

BLUEBELL were dumped out of the Fife and Lothians Cup after a pulsating tie.

Dundonald had a couple of half chances but United struck first with a goal on the half hour after the Fifers failed to clear a ball across goal. 

It got worse when James Lennox was stranded and the ball was blasted against a Bo’ness player before trickling over the line. 

Bluebell got one back in 47 minutes with a fine finish from Archie Campbell putting the visitors back in the game.

And they were level when a through ball put Campbell clean through and he made an expert job of beating the ‘keeper.

Dundonald had the momentum and Lewis McKenzie and Calum Smith came close to giving them the lead. 

But a good finish put Bo’ness 3-2 up. Bluebell threatened an equaliser with Campbell defied by a fine save and Adam Moffat coming close.

In the last minute a goal from a United break wrapped up the win. 
Dundonald boss Jason Dair said: “From our point of view the way we started the game was really not good enough.

“However, we started the second period very well and at 2-2 we looked capable of winning it. The first-half in general was very poor.”

Lochgelly 0 Crossgates 3

ANOTHER strange performance from the Albert who are fast disappearing out of the South Division promotion race.

They were hoping to build on last week’s good win over West Calder but against their local rivals Lochgelly produced few chances.

They did go close when Joe Kirby beat a couple of defenders and David Manderson came to Primrose’s rescue with a fine save.

Crossgates were dangerous, forcing a series of corners while Scott Hynd was twice foiled in his scoring attempts. 

After a goalless first half, the visitors struck in 49 minutes with a cross into the Albert box converted by Mark McKenzie. 

Two minutes later a Manderson kick-out caught the Berts’ defence out and McKenzie ran through to make it 2-0.

Lochgelly tried to fight back and an Ian Miller header from a corner was cleared off the line. In the 89th minute Hynd completed a fine move to complete the scoring.

Lochore 0 East Craigie 1

A DISAPPOINTING result for Lochore in a North Division game where they should have taken at least a point.

Chances were at a premium but there was controversy in eight minutes when the visiting goalkeeper caught the ball outside the box. 

He wasn’t booked and was in place to stop Scott Small’s free kick from finding the net. 

Ben Rolland was in good form but there were no takers for his crosses and at the break there were no goals.

The second period was another tight affair although Rolland’s trickery forced a number of corners for Welfare. 

There was more controversy when the East Craigie goalie picked up a pass-back and the referee produced a red card, only to withdraw it when he realised he hadn’t booked him in the first half.

It looked like a goalless draw until the 92nd minute when a ball into the Lochore box was clipped in at the front post.

Lochore boss Andy Healy said: “There were few really open chances in the game but it was hard to believe that their goalkeeper remained on the park.

“Our luck has been out recently and had they been reduced to 10 it could have helped us win. Over the piece a draw would probably have been a fair result.

“We are now looking forward to playing at Linlithgow Rose on Wednesday in the Fife and Lothians Cup, it will give our young team some invaluable experience.”

Kelty Hearts sweep to King Cup win

Heriot Watt Uni 1 Kelty 5

HEARTS proved too strong for the students in this quarter final tie and ended up convincing winners at Riccarton.

Kelty took a grip of the midfield and took the lead when Scott Dalziel converted after a neat move.

Heriot Watt were troubled by the visitors’ pace and it was 0-2 when Stephen Husband rifled the ball into the net. 

After the break Brian Ritchie finished well to take the game away from the uni side. Dalziel added number four soon before the student team pulled a goal back.

The last word went to Kelty with Scott Taylor-McKenzie rounding off the scoring.

There was good news for boss Thomas Courts and his Hearts side when they learned that their rivals for the East of Scotland League title, Lothian Thistle, had drawn 5-5 with Leith Athletic.

Kelty travel to meet Lothian in a crucial clash at Saughton on Saturday.

Fixtures: Wednesday, Fife and Lothians Cup, Linlithgow Rose v Lochore Welfare (7.30pm).

Saturday, East Super League, Bonnyrigg Rose v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. South Division, Armadale Thistle v Lochgelly Albert. North Division, Coupar Angus v Lochore Welfare.

East of Scotland Cup, Dundonald Bluebell v Musselburgh Athletic. East of Scotland Lge, Lothian Thistle v Kelty Hearts (all kick-offs 2pm).