ONLY Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Crossgates Primrose emerged with victories from Saturday’s packed junior card.

There were defeats for Kelty Hearts and Ballingry Rovers which has hindered their hopes of reaching safety in the Super League.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4, Armadale Th. 1.

THE Haws did themselves and neighbours Kelty and Ballingry a lot of good, with this result at Keir’s Park.

Armadale are very much in the race to avoid finishing in the bottom three of the East Super League and a strong second-half performance from the Hill of Beath side ensured a home win which cements their sixth top position.

The Haws made a good start to the game and took the lead when Craig Smart sent over a cross and Gareth Wardlaw thumped the ball into the net.

Smart had a couple of good chances after that and they could have got to the break further ahead but for some good defending by the visitors.

Amazingly Armadale squared things early in the second-half with a screaming 30 yard shot but Haws took it in their stride and when Aaron Hay’s shot was handled in the box Greg Smith converted from the spot to restore the lead.

Haws went to kill Thistle’s hopes off and the third came with ten minutes left when Barry Smith’s shot beat the ‘keeper and then Lyle Shaw’s fine run and cross was turned into the net by Wardlaw.

Haws boss Jock Finlayson said, “We played some really good stuff and scored some very good goals.

“My only complaint was that we missed a few good chances to make the points safe earlier.” Kelty Hearts 1, Musselburgh Athletic 2.

MUSSELBURGH grabbed a late winner to leave Hearts still needing a few points to avoid the relegation play-offs in the Super League.

The game saw Kelty starting the stronger and a good chance for Damon Gray was collected easily by the Burgh ‘keeper, and then Musselburgh created two chances and it was home’keeper Allan Fleming who yet again produced excellent saves to keep the score 0-0 at the break.

In the second-half Musselburgh took the lead in 55 minutes when a 20 yard screamer left Fleming helpless in the Kelty goal.

The Hearts responded and another effort from Gray went straight into the goalie’s hands.

As Kelty pushed forward Musselburgh were always a danger with their movement and pace and it was up to Fleming to make more good saves and Kelty’s equaliser came when the visiting goalie dallied on the ball for Gray to cross for sub Stuart Cargill to score.

Paddy Deane could have won the game for Hearts with a good effort but the Burgh ‘keeper did well to hold the ball and with the last kick of the game Musselburgh got the points after a great free-kick gave Fleming no chance.

Ballingry Rovers 0, Broxburn Athletic 3.

A BITTERLY disappointing result for an understrength Rovers squad.

The young Rovers had so much of the ball but the experienced Broxburn team defended well and waited for their opportunities to hurt Ballingry on the break.

The first period saw Rovers have a lot of the game in terms of possession without creating many chances and they were dealt a blow when dangerman Murray Cairstairs had to go off with an injury inside the first quarter.

Athletic were a patient lot and grabbed the lead on the half hour after the Rovers defence could not clear and that was the way it stood at the break.

In the second-half Rovers pushed forward and had a series of corners and free-kicks which put pressure on Broxburn but they kept them out and as time started to run out Ballingry went to three at the back and pushed extra men forward but it was Athletic who were to score twice on the break to take the points.

Rovers boss Stevie Kay was disappointed with the way the game panned out for his team, “Losing Murray Carstairs was a big blow early on but the first-half goal apart we dominated possession without really carving out clear cut chances.

“Credit to Broxburn, they are experts at containing you and hitting fast on the break and their two late goals were classic examples of that.

“We should have Lee Bryce back for this week but we are still short of several experienced campaigners.” Dundonald Bluebell 0, Edinburgh United 2.

A GOAL in only 18 seconds left Dundonald Bluebell chasing this South Division top of the table clash at Moorside.

United sit top of the table and before the start led Bluebell by ten points with the Moorsiders having three games in hand, so it was a very important game. And they got off to a dreadful start when straight from the kick-off an Edinburgh forward ran clean through the middle of the Bluebell defence and slotted home. Dundondald, without top scorer Craig Morrison, struggled to make an impact on the United defence and in 25 minutes things got worse for Bluebell when United added a second.

That was the way it stood at the break and in the second period Dundonald started to create a few chances an on loan front man Stephen Bathgate went close for them. However, with 20 minutes left the Bluebell hopes evaporated when Tommy Carr was red carded for dissent.

But still Dundonald attacked and when Bathgate a pulled down in the United box it looked like a stonewaller but the referee waved play on.

Then Bluebell’s Derek Wallace was dismissed but the short-handed Fifers suffeered no more damage losing by the two first-half goals.

Lochgelly Albert 1 Falkirk JFC 3.

ALBERT were always in with a shout in this South Division fixture at Gardiner’s Park but they ran out of attacking ideas.

Neither side threatened much in the opening minutes but Falkirk looked dangerous going forward and took the lead in 17 minutes.

Albert kept working hard at trying to prize open chances but five minutes from the break they were hit by a second.

The second-half saw Lochgelly threaten through Andy Watt and Greg O’Hanlon and in the 71st minute Watt pulled one back from the spot.

This opened the door for a brave Albert fight-back but the Bairns defended brilliantly to keep them out and in 74 minutes struck the killer third goal to take the points.

Lochore Welfare 0, Dundee North End 1.

NORTH Division leaders, North End proved just too strong for a Lochore team which had a lot of young players included through injuries.

The opening 45 minutes saw Lochore see a lot of the ball but the well organised North End rearguard closed Welfare down very quickly.

However, Lee Reid and Kevin Goodwin both squandered chances to put the home side ahead and at the break the scoreline was level.

The second-half saw the Dundee team look a little more assured and they took the lead on the hour after a mistake at the back by Lochore.

But Welfare fought back and after North End were reduced to ten men Reid came close to squaring the game.

Then Lochore were denied a penalty when Brett McGuire saw his shot strike a defender on the arm but no spot-kick was awarded.

North End held on for a fairly fortunate win which frustrated Lochore boss John Wylie, “Despite having a lot of regulars out the lads battled hard and at the same time played some really good football.

“We were very unlucky not to take something from the game.” Crossgates Primrose 1, Haddington Ath 0.

PRIMROSE left it late but they were well worth their win over fourth top of the South Division Haddington.

The opening 45 minutes saw Haddington have to work hard to stop the eager Crossgates attack causing them damage and good defending at both ends saw the half-time score 0-0.

In the second period Haddington started to threaten a little more but the home defence was equal to anything they could throw at them and in the closing quarter Primrose went looking for the winner.

It came with just a minute left when the Haddington defence was caught out by Steven Stark to net and end a run of six games without a win for the Humbug team.