Rovers are outgunned by Panmure

Benarty sides Ballingry Rovers and Lochore Welfare were on league duty and while Welfare were winning their North Division game at Kennoway, Rovers lost their Super League clash at Carnoustie.

Carnoustie Panmure 3, Ballingry Rovers 0.

A THIRD successive league defeat for Rovers which has pushed them nearer the bottom three clubs in the East Super League.

Ballingry made a good enough start to the game but failed to get on the score sheet and gradually Panmure started to push their way into the match.

Former Dundee United defender, Gary Kenneth, was posing problems with his height at set pieces and his knock down at a corner allowed Panmure to scramble the ball home for the opener.

Rovers had a couple of half chances but could not get a goal and a poor piece of defending allowed the home side to double their lead before the interval.

The second period saw Ballingry see a lot of the ball and there were a couple of good openings, then Kevin Connor saw the Panmure ‘keeper pull off a great save before Daniel Watt should have got one back.

Rovers could not get a goal and a third in time added on secured the three points which put Panmure on the same points as Rovers.

Ballingry manager, Willie Garner, has lost two experienced players over the past seven days, “Greg Meikle’s is finding it hard to combine his work commitments with playing while Damon Gray’s knee is bothering him so he has had to call it a day also.

“I will have to replace them to increase our firepower but at Carnoustie we had a couple of really good chances and did not take them and then gave away two bad goals and that cost us the chance of a result.” Kirkcaldy YM 0, Kelty Hearts 2.

THE North Division team made life hard for the Super League leaders in this East of Scotland tie and it took two strikes from Hearts’ ‘Mr Goals’ to ensure victory.

Conditions were awful, with incessant rain battering the pitch for most of the game but Kelty made a solid start to the tie.

There were a series of chances which went abegging while at the other end YM did fashion one opening that did not really trouble the visiting defence. Hearts got their noses in front in 20 minutes when a good move provided space for Stuart Cargill and he banged the ball into the net for yet another goal to add to his increasing tally.

The second-half saw Hearts continue to have the bulk of possession, although YM forced Kyle Allison into action but Hearts went in search of a second goal.

On the hour mark Cargill stepped up to the plate to grab the key strike which ensured Kelty’s place in the hat for the next round, although really it should have been much more emphatic.

Hearts boss Tom Courts was pleased with the way his team played, “To be fair to YM they worked hard throughout the game and tried to deny us the space to create chances, but we were still able to carve out a lot of good openings.

“We defended well and overall it was a good performance, although we should have scored a few more goals.” Crossgates Primrose 0, Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4.

HAWS were much too strong for Primrose but it was only after the home side was reduced to ten men in the second-half that the Super League team started to stretch their advantage.

Hill of Beath grabbed the lead in five minutes when Lyle Shaw was hauled down in the box and Darrin Wright converted the resultant penalty.

Haws continued to press but the well organised Crossgates defence kept them out, although at the other end the hosts were not able to create too many good chances.

Early in the second-half Connor Gray was red carded and that gave the visitors a bit of extra space which they used well and in 70 minutes Greg Smith converted a Calum Adamson cross to double the Haws advantage and five minutes later Smith provided the chance for Adamson to make it 3-0.

Primrose kept battling away but Haws were continuing to create chances and with around ten minutes left Smith fired in number four.

Haws boss, Jock Finlayson, was delighted with the result, “We played well in pretty difficult conditions and the finishing was a lot better, but we now have to keep scoring goals when the league resumes this weekend.” Dundonald Bluebell 3, Brechin Vics 2.

BRECHIN provided the shock of the East of Scotland Cup competition when they beat Lochee United in the last round and they battled away well at Moorside, but really they should have been well beaten.

The Vics’ ‘keeper had a superb game and looked like he could have taken this East of Scotland Cup game to a penalty shoot-out but for Bluebell striking well into time added on.

Dundonald opened well and put Vics under a lot of pressure but a series of saves from their last line kept the home side out then a penalty decision before half-time gave Brechin the chance to go ahead, but Moorside ‘keeper James Lennox pulled off a fine save from the spot-kick.

The hosts took the lead in 46 minutes with a 20 yard strike from Lee Duffy, but Vics broke away soon after to square the tie by the hour mark.

Dundonald kept surging forward and the second goal came when Ian Lally fired an unstoppable long range shot into the net.

There were some amazing scrambles in the Brechin box but in 91 minutes a well placed lob made the score 2-2. However, there was still time for Dundonald to go straight down the park and Craig Morrison was on the spot to net the winner to give Bluebell their place in the next round, although it should have been tied up long before it was.

Lochgelly Albert 0, Bathgate Thistle 2.

THIS East of Scotland tie was a repeat of the Fife and Lothians game the teams played out a few weeks ago and again, despite a decent Albert show, it ended with the East Premier team again progressing at Lochgelly’s expense.

The Albert had only two fit subs, with six players out of action, so it was always going to be a tough ask for the hosts.

The first period was keenly contested and both sides were able to have periods on top on a very heavy surface. Brett McGuire and Martin Perrie created openings for the Berts but the home side could not get the opener.

Lee Wilson was not overworked in the home goal and at the break there was no real surprise that there was a blank scoreline.

The first goal was always going to be crucial in this tie and Bathgate grabbed it in 48 minutes and this left Berts chasing the game. It was a good cut back from the left hand side which left a tap-in.

However, there was no panic in the home ranks and they created a couple of good chances but could not finish and with around 15 minutes to go a spectacular shot into the top corner gave Wilson no chance to secure the game for Thistle.

Ken’way Star Hearts 2, Lochore Welfare 3.

ONLY Welfare’s second North Division win of the season but it was a worthy three points against mid table Star Hearts.

Lochore took the lead in only ten minutes with a fine finish from Scott Renton, but Kennoway were finding their way through to put pressure on the visitors and levelled the game in 20 minutes.

Some good defending by Lochore ensured they got to the break level and five minutes into the second period things got even better for them.

Paul Duncan latched onto a Scott Penman pass and fired the ball past the ‘keeper to put Welfare ahead once more.

However, Star were continuing to look dangerous and they got their second equaliser on the hour.This pepped up the Kennoway challenge and they had several efforts which were well dealt with by Lochore ‘keeper Grant Inglis and this inspired the visitors to look for a winner.

With 15 minutes left Lee Celentano was hauled down in the box and Penman blasted home the spot-kick.

Star came back at Lochore but some great saves by Inglis ensured their second win of the season that takes them on to seven points.

Saturday’s fixtures: McBookie.com East Super League, Ballingry Rovers v Fauldhouse United, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Lochee United, Camelon v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com East Premier League, Dundonald Bluebell v Dalkeith Thistle.

McBookie.com South Division, Crossgates Primrose v Dunbar United, Lochgelly Albert v Livingston United (all games 1.45pm).