SATURDAY’S junior card saw Fife and Lothians Cup problems for the area’s big two sides with Kelty Hearts struggling to beat South Division side West Calder United and Hill of Beath Hawthorn losing to Camelon.

Lochgelly Albert also bowed out of the competition while Dundonald Bluebell had to settle for an East Premier League point after a time added on equaliser for Dundee Violet.

Dundee Violet 1, Dundonald Bluebell 1.

AN East Premier League game full of incident but one which Bluebell should have won despite having to play an hour with ten men.

Dundonald started the game well and had early chances. In 25 minutes they had a penalty chance to open the scoring after a rash tackle on Aiden Hendry in the Violet box but the normally reliable Lee Duffy saw his spot-kick saved.

But two minutes later a corner gave the Moorsiders the chance to take the lead when no defender picked up Tommy Carr and he headed home.

Then it was ‘keeper James Lennox to the rescue when Bradley Grieves conceded a penalty but the Bluebell last line made a brilliant save.

That was the way the game stood at the break and minutes into the second period Duffy thought he hd extended the lead when his 30 yarder came down off the bar and the referee signalled that the ball had crossed the line. But after a discussion with a linesman he changed his mind and it was cancelled out.

Dundonald continued to dominate and chances were squandered to tie the points up and in time added on Stuart Walton was adjudged to have fouled a Violet forward and this time the penalty was tucked away to rob Dundonald of all three points.

Kelty Hearts 2, West Calder United 2 (Hearts win 5-4 on penalties).

A REAL thriller of a Fife and Lothians tie and a much harder task for the East Super League leaders than the home fans expected.

The home side had to play a lot of the game with ten men after Sean O’Neill was ordered off after handling the ball on the line and the dismissal had a big impact on the game.

Hearts had new signing Sean Grady in the squad but it was West Calder who made a good start to the game and they took the lead when Hearts were caught out by a good finish.

Kelty saw plenty of the ball and put United under pressure but they survived and then went up the park and scored a second. There was disbelief among the home fans but Kelty could have pulled one back before break with Craig O’Reilly and Stuart Cargill looking dangerous.

The second period saw Hearts continue to pose real problems for United, despite being short-handed, and they pulled one back when Cargill produced a trademark finish to grab his 50th goal for the club and the gallant ten went in search of the equaliser.

West Calder defended bravely but faced with the dangerous Hearts frontline the leveller came from O’Reilly.

The penalty shoot-out saw both teams convert well but Hearts held their nerve to win 5-4.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0, Camelon 2.

HAWS’ suspension problems saw them short of key players for this Fife and Lothians tie but they created plenty of chances in the game.

Camelon started the match looking to expose the home side’s shortages and they grabbed the lead in nine minutes and Stuart Hall then had to pull of two great saves to keep his side in the hunt.

However, the home side soon started to carve out chances and Michael Lee hit the bar and there were other good openings around the Camelon box but at the break the visitors led.

In the second-half Hill of Beath started to really pick holes in the Camelon defence and Lewis McKenzie saw his effort cleared off the line then Lyle Shaw hit the post before James Adam saw the ‘keeper pull off a fine save from his shot.

And as often happens, after all the activity around the Camelon goal, the visitors broke away with ten minutes to go to grab the killer second goal.

Haws boss Jock Finlayson was disappointed to lose the tie, “Yes we are still struggling for players but we played well and created so many good chances but we cannot buy a goal at the moment.” Lochgelly Albert 0 Bathgate This 3.

THIS Fife and Lothians game was always going to be a tough one for the South Division side with Thistle a Premier League unit.

They needed to make a good start to the game but alas it just did not happen.

Thistle took advantage of getting too much space just outside the Lochgelly box and a 20 yarder flew into the net.

Two minutes later they lost another when a corner was not properly cleared and a shot flew through a ruck of players and past Lee Wilson.

Albert started to steady themselves and Michael Perrie and Brett McGuire went close and at the interval the two early strikes separated the teams.

The second-half saw the Berts continue to pose problems for Bathgate but they really needed a goal to open the door for a fight-back and Andy Barratt saw his free-kick produce a fine save from the ‘keeper and then Connor Schiavone was defied by the Thistle last line but a goal would not come.

And in 62 minutes came the third goal which gave Bathgate the tie.

Crossgates Primrose 1, Stoneyburn 0 (match abandoned).

THIS South Division game started and a goal from David Perrie put Crossgates ahead but the match was abandone after players on both sides lost discipline.

Lochore Welfare 0, Newburgh 3.

WELFARE won a cup-tie against the same opposition a few weeks back but the home side were well beaten in this North Divison game.

Yet they had chances to get goals but their indifferent defending caught them out again in this match.

Welfare could have been ahead early in the game but when they lost the first goal the heads started to go down and then Scott Renton was red carded before Burgh grabbed number two.

But after the break the Welfare came close on several occasions with the Burgh ‘keeper pulling off some great saves, including a penalty.

A third goal just emphasised the need for Lochore to get a win under their belts to raise their confidence levels. Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Ballingry Rovers v Linlithgow Rose, Kelty Hearts v Musselburgh Athletic, Boness United v Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

McBookie.com East Premier League, Dundonald Bluebell v Montrose Roselea. McBookie.com South Divison, Blackburn United v Lochgelly Albert, Pumpherston v Crossgates Primrose. McBookie.com North Division, Scone Thistle v Lochore Welfare (2.30).

Cup draw The Scottish Junior Cup second draw on Sunday has given the local clubs a good chance of progressing although all have been handed away ties.

The Central Fife line-up is, Forfar West End v Kelty Hearts, Port Glasgow United v Ballingry Rovers, Aberdeen University v Dundonald Bluebell, Edinburgh United v Crossgates Primrose, Lesmahagow v Lochore Welfare. Ties to be played on 25th October.