KELTY Hearts picked up another point on Saturday in their bid to avoid the East Super League play-offs while there were cup wins for Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Ballingry Rovers.

In the South Division Dundonald Bluebell lost again but in the North section Lochore Welfare returned from Angus with three points.

Kelty Hearts 1, Sauchie 1.

THIS was a very even game but Hearts would look at a couple of misses which could have helped them get further away from the bottom three Super League places.

The first-half saw defences dominate but Hearts had a great chance when the ball fell kindly for Neil McCabe only eight yards out but he blazed over the bar.

Then at the other end Sauchie saw Kelty ‘keeper Allan Fleming make a brilliant save to deny them a goal.

In the second period Kelty were caught out by the visitors who grabbed the lead but the home side kept working hard and got the equaliser when McCabe raced in and after an accidental clash with the Sauchie ‘keeper saw the ball roll agonisingly over the line.

Stuart Cargill could have added the winner for Hearts but at the other end Fleming made another fine save.

The result puts Hearts on 25 points with three games left so they still need five points to reach safety from the relegation play-offs.

Hearts player/boss, Thomas Courts, knows that there is still work to be done, “It is always disappointing to fail to win a home league game but it was a very even match.

“We still need more points to be sure of avoiding the play-offs and that will be our target in the weeks to come.” Whitburn 1, Hill of Beath Hawthorn 5.

THIS East of Scotland tie was over by the interval as Haws adapted quickly to the astro turf pitch and scored at will.

They took the lead in four minutes when Ross Allum was fouled in the box and Greg Smith converted from the spot, but their ‘keeper Stuart Hall had to make a good save to preserve the lead.

Haws had plenty of chances and in 30 minutes the second goal came when Smith put a free-kick in the corner of the net.

Then shortly before the break a Calum Adamson cross hit the underside of the bar and Smith was on hand to complete his hat-trick.

Whitburn were having problems containing Haws and on the hour it was 4-0, when following a good move down the right Aaron Hay sent a spectacular volley past the ‘keeper.

‘Burn pulled one back with ten minutes to go but Haws responded with a fifth from Allum.

Hill of Beath manager Jock Finlayson was delighted with the win, “It is never easy on astro-turf but the lads adapted well and we had the tie out of sight by the break.

“We are creating a lot of good chances just now which is very encouraging.” Penicuik Athletic 3, Ballingry Rovers 3 (Rovers win 4-2 on penalities).

SHORT-HANDED Ballingry Rovers produced a good performance in this DFT Fife and Lothians Cup tie and should have won it in normal time.

Rovers, with several young players in the team, made a good start and took the lead when Willie Campbell forced the ball home but Penicuik were dangerous on the break and squared the game.

Lee Bryce restored the Ballingry lead but there was no shaking off Penicuik and they equalised before the break.

The second-half saw Ballingry retake the lead immediately on the restart with Campbell again scoring and they had chances to stretch the advantage as the home side were reduced to ten men, but with time running out Pencuik squared matters with a bizarre goal.

The ball seemed to cannon off an Athletic hand and flew into the net but it stood.

It was on to penalities and Darren Smith, Gavin Gray, Steven Leslie and Murray Carstairs converted for Rovers.

Ballingry manager, Stevie Kay, was delighted with his side making the latter stages of the competition, “We had a very young team but they adapted well to the tie and really should have won it in normal time.

“The third equalising goal was a strange affair but we were convincing in the shoot-out.” Haddington Ath 4, Dundonald Bluebell 0.

A FIFTH successive defeat for Bluebell who found themselves with six teenagers in the squad for this DFT Fife and Lothians tie.

In a very open first period both teams had chances but it was Haddington who hit the onion bag while Bluebell fired blanks.

Athletic took the lead but Calum Young twice could have levelled before Haddington scored again to make it 2-0 at the break.

In the second-half Dundonald continued to create chances and Stephen Bathgate and Craig Morrison could have reduced the deficit before the home side added a third.

Bluebell never gave up but it was not their day and a fourth sealed the tie for Athletic.

Forfar Albion 0, Lochore Welfare 1.

WELFARE collected a welcome three point haul but it was a real struggle for them in Angus in this North Division game.

With six regulars missing manager John Wylie put himself on the bench and saw his team have plenty of the ball in the first-half.

Albion defended in depth but youngster Ryan Cowie had a couple of chances to open the Lochore account and failed to score being straight through against the ‘keeper.

Cowie eventually struck when he took a Grant Laing pass with a shot which went in off a post but in the second-half Forfar forced a lot of corners which Lochore dealt with well. Albion never gave up and continued to pose Welfare problems but some good defensive work kept them at bay.

Cowie had a chance to wrap the points up when he was put through against the ‘keeper but the Forfar last line saved well.

A win for Welfare but John Wylie was disappointed at time-up, “It was an overall poor performance from us.

“Yes we were short of regulars but we should have played a lot better and scored more goals.” Blackburn United 4, Crossgates Primrose 3.

PROMOTION chasing Blackburn found Primrose tough nuts to crack in this South Division clash.

The visitors made a great start with a goal from Steven Stark in just seven minutes but United came back and levelled the game in 18 minutes.

Crossgates were playing some good stuff and five minutes from the interval Russell Smart restored their advantage.

Two goals midway through the second period turned the game on its head. In 62 minutes Blackburn levelled and six minutes later they went 3-2 ahead.

A fourth goal in 70 minutes seemed to tie things up for Blackburn but Primrose kept working hard and got a third five minutes from time from Donald Hyslop but try as they might they could not get an equaliser.

Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Musselburgh Athletic, Sauchie v Ballingry Rovers. McBookie.com South Division, Dundonald Bluebell v Harthill Royal, Lochgelly Albert v Dunbar United, Rosyth Recreation v Crossgates Primrose. McBookie.com North Division, Forfar West End v Lochore Welfare (all games 2.30pm).