THE big derby match between Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Kelty Hearts lived up to the billing and it was the East Super League leaders who won the bragging rights.

Elsewhere Ballingry Rovers earned a useful point on the road while Dundonald Bluebell produced an excellent performance on Tayside in the East Premier League.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1, Kelty Hearts 2.

IN a game dominated by the gale force wind Hearts produced a lot of answers for the doubters who think that their good start to the Super League campaign is a merely a passing phase.

Haws at Keir’s Park is a close examination for any side and Kelty made a dream start to the game.

In the third minutes Stuart Cargill sent over a curling effort from a wide area and the wind made it a nightmare for the home side as the ball drifted into the net.

With wind advantage Hearts were keen on keeping up the pressure, with Shaun Greig prominent and in 20 minutes the striker doubled his and his side’s tally when he was first to react close in and fired home.

The home side had to work really hard to keep the visitors out and they got to the break two adrift.

The second period saw the hosts look to put pressure on Kelty and Craig Smart saw a good shot saved by Kyle Allison.

The game then flared up when Hearts’ Neil McCabe was red carded after an incident with Lyle Shaw, but the ten men did not panic and defended solidly and still posed the Haws a few problems. Haws pulled a goal back when Lewis McKenzie sent over a lovely cross which Aaron Hay converted and it set up an exciting finale.

The nearest the home side came to an equaliser was when Smart had an opening but could not convert.

Hearts boss Thomas Courts was delighted with the result, “We knew that this was going to be a really tough assignment but we got an early lead and was able to build on that. It was a thoroughly good performance.

“It was a typical derby game between these two clubs but we controlled good sections of the game although the closing minutes were tense after we had neil McCabe sent off and Haws got one back.” Haws boss Jock Finlayson felt his men let themselves down in the first-half, “We were poor against the wind in the first-half although the opening goal was very much a result of the conditons.

“The second-half was much better from us and there were a couple of chances which could have produced the equaliser.” Lochee United 2, Ballingry Rovers 2.

ROVERS should have taken all three points from this Super League game on Tayside.

Ballingry made a good start to the game and created a number of chances and in 25 minutes Lee Bryce latched onto a good pass and rounded the ‘keeper to put the visitors ahead.

There were other chances for Rovers but these were missed and on the interval whistle Lochee nipped in to level the game.

The second period saw Ballingry take an early lead with a fine finish from Scott McCrindle and like the first period the visitors could have made the game safe but Lochee hung on.

Then as the game went into time added on United struck again to take an unlikely point from the game.

Rovers boss Lee Dair was disappointed his men could not hold on to the lead, “Before the game I would have taken a point from it but when you saw how it went we really should have taken all three points.” Broughty Athletic 0, Dundonald Bluebell 1.

A VERY disciplined performance from Bluebell to collect another East Premier League win.

The wind made life difficult for both teams but Dundonald were the better side and they created some good openings.

Jamie Gilfillan, Craig Morrison and Derek Wallace all should have scored before the interval but at half-time the scoreline was still blank.

The second period saw Dundonald remain the more likely team to score and then Broughty had a man sent-off.

This saw the visitors press the home side back and a Wallace header came close to counting but with ten minutes left the goal came.

Darren Falconer provided the cross and there was Gilfillan to turn the ball into the net to take Bluebell on to ten points.

Lochgelly Albert 1, Dunbar United 1.

THIS South Division game, at the Top of the Town, saw the players struggle in very windy conditions.

Dunbar grabbed the lead in only five minutes after a defensive mix-up from the home side, but they then took a grip of the game.

Connor Schiavone was tormenting the visitors on the wing and there were plenty of chances for Lochgelly to get back into the game but at half-time the East Lothian side were still ahead.

In the second-half Stevie Brown hit the post and there were other close things around the Dunbar goal but still United survived.

However, with ten minutes left Darren Seath latched on to a pass, beat the off-side trap and ran through to square things.

In the closing seconds Albert were camped in the Dunbar box but the visitors escaped with a point.

Tranent 3, Crossgates Primrose 0.

ANOTHER disappointing result for Primrose as they continue to struggle in the South Division.

The ‘Rose are desperately needing a change in luck but in East Lothian they found a home team ready to punish any errors.

Crossgates had moments when it seemed as if they would get in front but they failed and once Tranent got their noses in front things started to go against them.

Although Tranent added two more goals there were openings for Primrose that if these were taken could have made a difference.

Lochore Welfare 2, Brechin Vics 3.

A TIME added on goal saw Welfare go down to a defeat they did not deserve in this North Division fixture.

And they got a great start to the game when Scott Penman fired them ahead with a well placed free-kick and there were chances to stretch the advantage only for Vics to level the game before the break.

Things got worse for Lochore in the second period when goalkeeper Harry Howieson slipped going for a pass-back and Vics went ahead but it was not long before Welfare were back in charge.

They created plenty of chances and from one of them Craig McGuire levelled the match.

There were other openings for Lochore to win it and the ball flew into the net only for the referee to blow for what he saw as a foul on the ‘keeper although it was a defender who impeded the last line.

Then in the third minute of time added on Vics grabbed the all important third goal.

Welfare manager Peter Hutton could hardly believe the way the game finished, “We played some really good stuff but we are being punished for our mistakes.

“We could do with another one or two more auld heads to help our young team out.” Saturday’s fixtures, DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Dundee Violet. Kelty Hearts v Dundee Downfield, Crossgates Primrose v Kirriemuir Thistle, Lochgelly Albert v West Calder United, Lochore Welfare v Newburgh.

McBookie.com East Premier League, Glenrothes v Dundonald Bluebell (all games 2.30).