Crossgates 0 Hill of Beath 2

SFA South Region Challenge Cup

HAWS boss Kevin Fotheringham praised his players after they secured a hard-fought derby win at Crossgates Primrose.

The Keirs Park side made the short trip to Humbug Park for this eagerly anticipated tie and, despite being given a stern test by Alan Campbell’s men, had enough to march on into round three.

The game was just eight minutes old when Shaun Leishman gave Hill of Beath the initiative and, although both teams huffed and puffed, neither were able to add to the scoreboard before half-time.

Any hopes that Primrose had of a comeback looked more remote just before the hour mark when Calum Adamson doubled the visitors’ advantage and, although they tried to find a way back into it, the Haws comfortably held out.

Fotheringham admitted: “The performance level wasn’t great.

“We weren’t at our best but we defended quite well and restricted Crossgates to one or two chances, while we created five or six.

“Sometimes you’ve got to go away from home and grind out a result, and we did that.

“We were short of two or three bodies and, if you’d said to me before that we’d win 2-0, I’d have been delighted.

“It was a good result. I know Alan and his management team well and so we know quite a bit about them. They’re building and will get better.”

Campbell commented: “It was a fairly scrappy game to be honest and I don’t think either team was on top of their game.

“We played away ok, but we lost the first goal at a set-piece after eight or nine minutes and that gave them something to hold on to.

“I’m not too disappointed. All in all, we played ok, but Hill of Beath just shaded it.”

Lochmaben 0 Kelty Hearts 5

KELTY HEARTS warmed up for the first round of the William Hill Scottish Cup by recording a comfortable win at Lochmaben on Saturday.

Thomas Courts’ in-form team recorded their fourth successive victory – each of which has also resulted in a clean sheet – on the outskirts of Lockerbie to ease their way into the third round of the South Region Challenge Cup with plenty to spare.

That has ensured they will return to the south west this weekend for their game with Dalbeattie Star in buoyant mood, with their goal tally over their last four games now sitting at 19.

Scott-Taylor Mackenzie put them ahead after just four minutes before Stuart Cargill’s 153rd and 154th goals for the club either side of the break put them in a commanding position.

Mackenzie, with his second on the day, and Elliot Ford completed a fine afternoon’s work for Hearts as they prepare to try and reach the second round of the Scottish Cup for the first time.

Eyemouth 0 Dundonald Bluebell 5

HAT-TRICK hero Calum Smith inspired Dundonald Bluebell as they eased their way into the third round at East of Scotland League rivals Eyemouth United.

Jason Dair’s men defeated the Borders side 6-0 at Moorside Park two weeks prior to this meeting and they produced a similarly professional performance.

Archie Campbell and Barry Sibanda got the other goals for Bluebell, and Dair, whose team host Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale on Saturday, commented: “I said to them at the start to be professional, work hard and hopefully then our quality would take over, and that’s what happened.

“We scored some good goals and we’ve kept a couple of clean sheets in the last few games as well, which is pleasing.

“I don’t think we’ve hit top gear yet but this Saturday should make us get towards that.”

Bathgate Th 1 Lochore Welfare 0

Premier League South

TEN-MAN Lochore Welfare were beaten for the second time this season in narrow fashion at Bathgate Thistle.

A 62nd minute Robbie Feeney penalty – awarded after a Welfare player was red carded for handball – proved the difference between the teams.

The defeat sees Andy Healy’s men drop to 10th in the table but they are just four points behind second-top Kirkcaldy YM.

Lochgelly Albert 2 Pumpherston 4

INDIVIDUAL errors haunted Lochgelly Albert as they dropped to the bottom of the table after losing out to league leaders Pumpherston.

The Gardiner’s Park side fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw at Rosyth in their last match but they were unable to take anything from this one as the West Lothian side maintained their 100 per cent winning start.

After hitting the underside of the ‘Bert’s bar inside three minutes, the visitors took a 10th minute lead when Mark Wilkins took advantage of hesitancy at the back to score, but Stephen Stark’s shot from the left found its way in to equalise just after the half hour.

Lochgelly, however, found themselves behind for a second time just four minutes from the break when Wilkins flicked home a corner at the near post, and he completed his hat-trick four minutes after the restart by latching on to a long clearance and punishing more hesitant defending.

Wilkins added his, and Pumpherston’s, fourth goal seven minutes later to put the result beyond doubt and, although Ricky Cooper sent a fine shot beyond the goalkeeper in the final minute, it was scant consolation for the hosts.

Albert secretary, Ian Patrick, said: “It was a good enough game but individual errors are killing us.

“We knew this season would be one of transition but we’re not throwing in the towel.”

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): William Hill Scottish Cup, first round - Dalbeattie Star v Kelty Hearts (3pm).

East of Scotland Football League, Conference A - Tweedmouth Rangers v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. Conference B - Dundonald Bluebell v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

McBookie.com Premier League South - Livingston United v Lochgelly Albert, Lochore Welfare v West Calder United.