Published: Wednesday, 10th February, 2010 3:46pm

Hearts improve position with super result

by Jim Stark

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RAIN was the local junior card's enemy on Saturday rather than the frost and only three teams saw action.

The big Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Arthurlie Scottish Emirates Scottish Junior Cup tie will now take place this Saturday at Keir's Park.

Boness United 1, Kelty Hearts 2.

KELTY Hearts went to unbeaten Boness and returned with three very valuable East Super League points.

Boness have been unbeaten for weeks and opened the game very confidently and had Hearts hemmed in for a spell.

Eventually they took the lead but Kelty were not for caving in and they gradually took a grip of the midfield.

Hearts created a couple of good chances before they levelled the game in 15 minutes when Gary Leighton fired home the equaliser with a header which flew into the top corner.

Hearts continued to press and the home 'keeoer had to pull off a couple of good saves but in 25 minutes Craig Morrison had a well placed shot which gave the 'keeper no chance to make it 2-1.

Hearts could have added to their tally before the break and in the second period the Boness frustration boiled over when they had a man sent off.

Kelty kept their cool and Scott Lawrie was unlucky with a good effort as Boness tried hard to get back into the picture.

Hearts maintained their discipline and defended solidly late in the game to ensure the points headed back to Fife.

Coach Lee Bailey was in charge with manager Stevie Leighton out of action and he was really pleased with the team. He said, "Boness were full of confidence but we played some really good stuff at times and created some good chances.

"The goals we scored were excellent and there were several chances in the second period to make it more convincing but the points have moved us up the table with games in hand."

Blairgowrie 1, Ballingry Rovers 0.

BALLINGRY Rovers missed the chance to go back top of the East Premier League when they lost by the only goal in Perthshire.

Blair had a number of experienced players in their ranks and they opened the game pretty well and asked a few questions of the Rovers defence.

Neither side was able to dominate enough to see many chances created in the first period and a blank scoreline at the break was about right.

In the second-half Ballingry did carve out a couple of good openings but failed to get the goal the game needed and Blairgowrie kept working away.

Their patience was rewarded with 13 minutes left when they grabbed the winner from the penalty spot to leave Rovers in third spot two points behind leaders Kinnoull.

Luncarty 0, Crossgates Primrose 2.

BOTTOM of the Central League Luncarty found Crossgates too hot to handle in Perthshire.

Primrose had a monopoly of possession and worked several good moves without finding the killer touch in front of goal.

Indeed, the visitors had the ball in the net only to see the strike chalked-off but before the break Stuart Irvine fired them ahead.

In the second period it was still Crossgates who dominated and they 'sored' again only to see it struck from the book by the referee but Luncarty seldome posed the visiting defence many problems.

Primrose kept their composure and when Gary Brown slotted home numbner two the game was all but over.

The result helped move Primrose out of the bottom two spots in the division.

SATURDAY'S fixtures: Scottish Emirates Cup fourth round, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Arthurlie (2pm). East Super League, Kelty Hearts v Glenrothes (2pm). East Premier League, Ballingry Rovers v Penicuick Athletic (2pm). Central League, Crossgates Primrose v Scone Thistle, Lochore Welfare v Lochgelly Albert, Luncarty v Dundonald Bluebell (2pm).