FOR the third week in a row the weather took a swipe at the East of Scotland card, with only two local sides in action, and the games brought encouraging results for Dundonald Bluebell and Lochgelly Albert.

Vale of Leithen 0
Dundonald Bluebell 7

Bottom of the Premier Division, Vale of Leithen, found the ‘Bell too hot to handle as the visitors won 7-0.

Vale were on the defensive, from almost the first whistle, as Dundonald swarmed around their penalty area.

The first period saw the ‘Bell creating chances from the start, and they took the lead when Kieran Hall was in the perfect place to slot the opener into the corner of the net.

Vale have been having a tough season and the second goal came when Ross Drummond arrived in the box to finish well from Luke Kennedy’s cross.

The Dundonald defence was seldom bothered and the visitors kept searching for more goals, and Kennedy added a third after a good visiting move saw substitute, Calum Smith, provide the opening.

The second period saw the ‘Bell domination continue and when Hall was fouled in the box he fired in the fourth from the spot.

As the Vale of Leithen defence started to tire more goals had to come and Billy Rogerson made it 5-0 with a rasping effort.

Kennedy’s pass opened the door for Smith to run through and get number six, and then a fine move saw Scott Durie get number seven with an angled drive.

Player/assistant manager, Calum Smith, was pleased with the performance: “We disappointed in midweek in the 3-1 defeat from Penicuik, but we played well in difficult conditions at Vale of Leithen.

“We created a lot of good chances and took them, and are in a position which can give us the opportunity to finish in a high placing in the table, but to do that we have to produce consistently good performances.”

Craigroyston 0
Lochgelly Albert 0

Lochgelly Albert collected a point in the Second Division as they played out a goalless draw away to Craigroyston.

The heavy rain of Friday made the surface very heavy, but Lochgelly put together some decent moves in the opening half hour without carving out many clear-cut chances, and at the other end Craigroyston had a couple of decent openings and Berts’ ‘keeper, Sam McGuff, made a couple of good saves.

The second-half saw the Albert have two good openings, but the home defence kept them out, with Lee Celentano, busy up front, unlucky not to hit the target.

However, with Mikey Gibb playing solidly at the back for the Berts, the home side were struggling to carve out many chances, but in the closing stages McGuff made two fine saves to keep Craigroyston out.

Then in the closing seconds, Lochgelly went for the winner and Lucas Reilly showed excellent skills to get into the box and his fine shot looked to be heading into the roof of the net, when the Craigroyston ‘keeper threw himself across his goal and finger-tipped the ball over the bar.

The result sees Craigrosyton eight points ahead of Lochgelly and just outside of the relegation zone, but the Berts have four games in hand so there is still hope that they can avoid the drop.

Albert committee man, Derek Patrick, was encouraged by the performance: “We were always in this game, but we just could not get the goal which would have given us the win we wanted.

“However, we played some good football, on a difficult surface, and it was some save to stop Lucas Reilly’s shot.”

Upcoming Fixtures


Wednesday

East of Scotland Cup Fourth Round: Dundonald Bluebell v The Spartans (7.30pm).

East of Scotland Premier League: Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Musselburgh Athletic (7.30pm).

Saturday

East of Scotland Pemier League: Dundonald Bluebell v Jeanfield Swifts (2.30pm).

East of Scotland League Cup (2.30pm kick-offs): Crossgates Primrose v Thornton Hibs, Dalkeith Thistle v Lochore Welfare, West Calder United v Hill of Beath Hawthorn.