FIVE games beat the stormy conditions on Saturday and there were excellent results for Kelty Hearts, Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell, as they strengthened their positions in their divisions.

Not such a good day for Crossgates Primrose and Lochgelly Albert though who both lost out in the gale.

Caledonia Braves 0, Kelty Hearts 1.

A SOLID performance on the road kept Kelty Hearts very much involved at the top of the Lowland League.

Braves are at the lower end of the table, but don’t ship many goals and their good organisation was evident as the game opened with both defences on top.

However, Hearts forced a corner and from Dylan Easton’s set piece Scott Hooper powered a header past the ‘keeper to give them the lead.

The difficult weather conditions made it difficult for both sides and play became scrappy at times, but Hearts defended well.

They were unlucky not to get a second when Jamie Stevenson’s free-kick thudded against the Braves’ bar but they ensured very few chances for the home side and their team work earned the win which keeps them second top of the table, a point behind East Kilbride with a game in hand, who they play at New Central Park on Saturday.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4, Tynecastle 2.

TYNECASTLE have made an encouraging start to their East of Scotland Premier League season and grabbed the lead in this Keirs Park clash inside 40 seconds.

A corner glanced off the head of defending home forward Daniel Watt and flew into the net.

However, within three minutes the haws were level. Ryan Connelly was hauled down in the Edinburgh side’s box and Lyle Kellichan converted from the spot.

Twenty minutes later the home side went ahead when Connelly flicked the ball into the Tynecastle box and there was Calum Adamson to slide it home at the back post.

However, two minutes from the break a shot took a wicked deflection off Kellichan’s back and flew into the net to make the game level at half-time.

There were more problems for Hill of Beath five minutes into the second period when Russell Grierson was red carded for an over the top challenge, but the ten men took the lead with 20 minutes to go when Scott Gibson’s cross was headed home by Adamson, and then four minutes later 19 year-old Rory Marshall fired a 25 yarder into the net for his first goal for the club.

The drama was not over though for Watt picked up a second yellow to leave the hosts with nine, but they now sit in third spot in the table!

Haws boss John Mitchell was delighted with the result: “We are still short of players, but the lads fought back well after losing a first minute goal and it was a strange aspect of the game that both their strikes were own goals.

“Our young defenders, Keiryan Hicks, Jake Mitchell and Lyle Kellichan were outstanding in difficult conditions.”

Newtongrange Star 1, Dundonald Bluebell 5.

THIS game was switched to New Victoria Park at the 11th hour when the heavy rain of mid week rendered Moorside unplayable and by full-time the ‘Bell were delighted that they agreed to the switch this Premier League match.

Dundonald settled quickly and took the lead in 16 minutes when Stuart Cargill cut inside and fired a lovely shot past the Star ‘keeper.

Five minutes later Scott Durie sent over a well flighted corner and there was Barry Sibanda to power a header into the net.

Newtongrange were at sixes and sevens at the back at this stage and on the half hour Sibanda’s cross was perfect for Calum Strang to finish expertly then in the closing minutes of the half Strang’s cut-back was finished well by Sibanda to make the break score 4-0.

The second period saw the ‘Bell stay in charge and on the hour a quick free-kick from Chris Gay sent Lewis McKenzie through and he fired the ball past the ‘keeper as Bluebell went nap.

There was a problem late on for Dundonald though when, with all their subs committed, Durie collected a head knock and they played out the game with ten and Star took advantage to get a consolation goal.

Bluebell are joint seventh in the table and on nine points and manager Kevin Fotheringham described it as the best performance of the season: “We were worried that we might not have a game, after Moorside was left in poor condition by the heavy rain so we were delighted that Star agreed to the switch and the lads were superb throughout the game.

“We were solid defensively and sharp in attack and hopefully the confidence levels will get a huge lift by the performance and result.”

Crossgates Primrose 0, Lothian Thistle 3.

PRIMROSE went into this game looking for their first win in the Premier League, but Lothian had won all their games before kick-off and started aggressively.

Rhory Mooney made a couple of good stops but in 16 minutes Thistle grabbed the lead when the Crossgates defence was caught out.

The Humbug Park men fell two behind five minutes later when the visitors created a good opening for their burly centre-forward to fire home.

Primrose mounted a fight-back but the Lothian defence stood firm and the two goals separated the teams at the break.

Crossgates started the second-half well and Archie Campbell went close and there were other half chances but Thistle survived.

And they tied up the points with 16 minutes left with a well taken strike and the result leaves Primrose fourth bottom of the table with two points from five games.

Lochgelly Albert 1, Newburgh 2.

THE Berts blew chances to win this East of Scotland First Division Conference B fixture.

Lochgelly dominated possession for long spells and but early on their ‘keeper, Shaun Hunter, made a fine save, then in nine minutes the Albert had a corner, but the ball was cleared and went down the park where Burgh took advantage to give Hunter no chance.

The Berts’ number one made a great save just after this but from then on until the break it was all Lochgelly.

They had two outstanding chances as the interval approached when Ryan Cowie provided a good chance for Liam Bell, but as he was shooting he lost his footing and shot wide from inside the six yard box, then Cowie went clean through only to see him denied by the Newburgh ‘keeper.

Soon after the break Stephen Stark got space in the Burgh box but the ‘keeper saved well, then in 64 minutes some poor defending let Newburgh in to get a second.

Soon after the Berts were back in it when Declan Boyle fired a 35 yard free-kick past the ‘keeper and from then until time up it was all Lochgelly but some really good openings were missed.

It leaves the Berts in fourth bottom spot, with three points from four games, and secretary Ian Patrick said the team should not have lost that one: “We gave away a terrible second goal through poor marking and missed several easy chances.

“It was certainly all about our mistakes rather than anything Newburgh doing a great deal win the game.”

Saturday’s fixtures, Lowland League, Kelty Hearts v East Kilbride 3pm. East of Scotland Premier League, Crossgates Primrose v Dundonald Bluebell 2pm, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2.30pm. EoS First Division Conference B, Glenrothes v Lochore Welfare 2pm, Lochgelly Albert v Burntisland Shipyard 2pm.