SATURDAY was a good day for the junior sides with important wins being racked up by Kelty Hearts, Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Dundonald Bluebell and Lochore Welfare.

With Lochgelly Albert’s match with Harthill Royal being postponed, the only defeat was suffered by Crossgates Primrose.

Kelty Hearts 4, Broxburn Athletic 1.

HEARTS needed a good win over stuffy Broxburn to keep the momentum strong in their bid for the East Super League title and got just what they wanted.

Striker Stuart Cargill, who made such a good start to the season scoring virtually at will, has been short of goals lately but that all changed in this game.

He partnered Scott Dalziel as the Kelty strike force and the pair of them posed the normally solid Broxburn defence all sorts of problems.

Hearts opened the game strongly and had Broxburn hemmed in and the opener came when Dalziel coolly clipped the ball home after the visiting ‘keeper spilled a high ball.

Athletic were toiling to contain Hearts and number two came from a crisp piece of finishing from Cargill, when he latched on to a near post corner and scored from close in.

That was the way the game stood at the break and it did not take Cargill long to grab number three, when he rounded off a good piece of play from Hearts and fired home from 20 yards range.

Credit to the visitors though, there was no throwing in the towel and they pulled one back with a well placed header, but Cargill was going to have the last say with a fine finish to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-1, thanks to good work by sub Craig O’Reilly.

With the other contenders on Scottish Cup duty the result has stretched the Kelty lead at the top of the table to 16 points, albeit they have played five games more, but the important thing is points on the board.

Said Hearts player/boss, Thomas Courts, “Conditions were not easy as rain made the pitch sticky and Broxburn are a well organised side, but we played well and took advantage of the chances that were created.

“It was important to win the game and get another three points in the tank and while the gap with the rest of the league is 16 now and seems impressive, the chasing clubs have a lot of games in hand, but we do have the points on the board.” Lochee United 1, Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2.

THREE very useful Super League points for Haws as they seek to climb into the top six in the table, but it should have been more emphatic.

Relegation threatened Lochee were always struggling to contain the Haws’ front play and with the aid of the woodwork and goal-line clearances they stayed in the game right to the end.

Hill of Beath made a good start to the match and grabbed the lead when Aaron Hay’s first shot was saved and then Calum Adamson, following up, saw his effort blocked on the line, but Hay was lying handy to force the ball home.

It was all Haws and Hay struck the bar before Lee Bryce saw the his effort cleared off the line, while at the other end Stuart Hall was only called on a couple of times to mop danger up. A single goal at the break seemed a slim lead after having so much of the ball, but five minutes into the second period Bryce’s fine finish doubled the Keir’s Parkers’ advantage.

There could have been more for Adamson and then Lochee were reduced to ten for a reckless midfield challenge, but United pulled one back.

Then Greg Smith went clean through and saw his shot saved and Lewis McLean’s effort was cleared off the line, but Lochee were still in it and Haws had to defend well to ensure there was no come-back for United, who had another man sent-off late on.

Haws boss, Jock Finlayson, was delighted to get the points but was disappointed that his team did not score more goals, “We played some good stuff and there were some very good chances, but either the woodwork or desperate defending kept us out.

“However, the important thing was getting the three points.” Dundonald Bluebell 1, Glenrothes 0.

BLUEBELL’S new player/ manager, Craig Morrison, could not have asked for a better start.

The Moorsiders are still very much in the East Premier League promotion race and this derby win was just what the doctor ordered.

Glens are a well organised side and they made life difficult for Bluebell in the early stages, with some excellent defending.

Dundonald were creating chances though and Lewis Elder was unlucky not to score before Derek Wallace was only inches away from opening the scoring before the break.

The second period saw Glens working hard to contain the home side but still Dundonald were getting through and Elder went close again before, at the other end, James Lennox made a good save to deny Glens.

There were only ten minutes left when the winner came.

A nice free-kick move saw Wallace fire the ball across the face of the Glenrothes goal and there was Calum Young, who headed strongly past the ‘keeper.

Glens did not give up but good work at the back ensured the win which keeps fourth placed Bluebell in the race for the Super League.

Craig Morrison, who is being assisted by Craig McCreadie, Andy Forbes and Kevin Bain, was delighted with the way his team tackled a difficult hurdle, “It was a good performance and we created some excellent chances.

“The lads have been taking on board what has been discussed at training and the structure of our play was very encouraging.

“Clearly we want to be in the promotion race all the way, but we will be taking it one game at a time.” Lochore Welfare 3, Luncarty 1.

THREE very handy points for Welfare who are moving along nicely in their bid to move into the middle of the North Division.

It did need a second-half recovery to achieve it though, as Luncarty grabbed the lead in the first period through a well placed header following a corner.

It was all Lochore in the second-half and once they got level, after 55 minutes, there was only going to be one winner.

The leveller came when Brian Donnelly was hauled down in the box and Craig McGuire slotted home the penalty.

The second came ten minutes later when Lee Celentano beat two defenders and fired an excellent shot past the ‘keeper.

Luncarty were being overpowered in midfield by the home side and with 15 minutes to go the key third goal arrived.

Graeme Moore provided the opening and Celentano converted from close in to tie up the points.

Blackburn United 2, Crossgates Primrose 0.

PRIMROSE gave Blackburn a real run for their money but just were unable to create enough chances to get back into the game after the home side had taken the lead.

Crossgates did well for the most part but were caught out when United grabbed the advantage but there were spells when the visitors came close to getting a leveller.

Blackburn added to their tally later in the game but still Primrose kept working away and came close on a couple of occasions.

The home side defended well though and did enough to take the points.

Saturday’s fixtures, McBookie.com East Super League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Broxburn Athletic.

McBookie.com South Division, Crossgates Primrose v Haddington Athletic, Livingston United v Lochgelly Albert. McBookie.com North Division, Forfar Albion v Lochore Welfare.

East of Scotland Cup, Dundonald Bluebell v Kelty Hearts (all games 2.30pm).