FROST struck again at the end of the week and only three games of the junior programme beat the weather and only one of Saturday’s Scottish Junior Cup-ties went ahead.

The Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Auchinleck Talbot tie was an early casualty and was followed by the Crossgates Primrose v Beith game, but Lochore Welfare’s game at Forth Wanderers was on and the Central Parkers are still in the competition.

In the Super League Dundonald Bluebell took on and beat Jeanfield Swifts to move to a point behind leaders Linlithgow Rose and in the South Division new Berts boss, Stevie Kowbel, got off to a winning start.

Forth Wanderers 2,

Lochore Welfare 2.

THE tie beat the freezing weather and Lochore were so close to making round four at the first time of asking.

Key player James Adam was back for the Lochore cause after two weeks out through injury, although there was no Kearyn Hicks but the visitors felt they had a real chance in this tie.

The game was played at the John Cumming Stadium, in Carluke, because of Forth’s ground being in a poor condition and in the early stages the teams were feeling their way on the astro surface.

Lochore made a tidy start to the game and there were a couple of half chances up the Forth end but no goals, although Lewis Valentine, the Welfare ‘keeper, was not overworked.

In 22 minutes Lochore got the breakthrough. Aaron Wood did the spadework and created the chance for Adam with a neat pass, who made no mistake whatsoever from six yards out

Welfare were posing Forth real problems and in 28 minutes things got better for them when the Wanderers were down to ten men after foul play in denying a goal scoring opportunity, when Joe Kinnimonth was getting away from a defender.

But it did not seem to affect the hosts for they levelled a minute later with a back post header at a corner.

Level at the interval Lochore were right in this tie but eight minutes after the break, the short handed home side went ahead when the Welfare defence was caught out with a 12 yard finish, although there was a hint of off-side about the move.

The young visitors were not for giving their Scottish Cup place up without a fight and rolled their sleeves up and took the tie to the hosts.

And in 62 minutes they were level when Kinninmonth fired in a fine left foot volley from the edge of the box which gave the ‘keeper no chance.

They smelled blood now, could the young Crosshill side, and Forth had to rely on surviving several scares with David Byrne hitting the post.

And Kinninmonth’s shot late on brought out a fantastic save from the Forth ‘keeper to earn a replay this Saturday, at Central Park.

Welfare boss, Andy Healy, felt it was a good cup-tie: “Forth play an unusual system which sees them leave players upfield and it led to a very open match.

“Going a goal down after the interval was a big blow but the lads fought back superbly and once we levelled there were chances there to go on and win it.

“We have the opportunity to get into the fourth round this Saturday, but we know that Forth will be a determined lot and it really is a tough one to call.

“We had six lads out for various reasons but we will have two back for this weekend, although Kearyn Hicks will be out until the start of the new year.”

Dundonald Bluebell 4,

Jeanfield Swifts 0.

ANOTHER powerful performance from the ‘Bell who are sitting proudly in second top spot in the East Super League.

Moorside was firm but playable and the home side made sure that the dangerous Perthshire side were played right out of the picture.

Dundonald dominated the first-half and created a lot of chances and took the lead when Lewis McKenzie headed home then converted from the spot after Calum Smith had been fouled in the box.

There were other chances for the home side before Smith scored to make the half-time score 3-0.

The second-half saw Jeanfield come more into the game but still they struggled to cause the home side many problems and when McKenzie completed his hat-trick, his fifth in Super League football, it was game over.

There were other openings for Bluebell but the Jeanfield defensive work managed to keep them out.

Said Dundonald manager Stevie Kay: “It was a very good performance from the lads.

“We handled Jeanfield well and once we went ahead the chances were being created at a good rate and our finishing was again good.

“That is 12 goals in our last three Super League games, which is a good scoring rate, but we have to keep it going when Boness visit Moorside this Saturday.”

Lochgelly Albert 4,

Rosyth Recreation 2.

NO danger of this South Division game going the way of the previous week which suffered a late postponement.

Gardiner’s Park was passed playable early in the morning and with the temperature rising steadily the pitch was perfect by kick-off and the Berts got the best possible start with a goal in only two minutes.

Ricky Cooper latched on to the ball and fired his shot well wide of the ‘keeper.

Rosyth were at sixes and sevens trying to match the eager Lochgelly side and soon after, from a corner, Iain Miller fired home a header at the back post.

Recs did hit the Albert bar but on the half hour the home side were three to the good. Martin Rennie created the chance with a good pass and Euan Henderson thumped the ball home.

In fairness to Rosyth they did force a series of corners but the Lochgelly defence coped well to ensure a comfortable interval lead.

The second period opened fairly quietly but the Albert still carried a real threat although it was Rosyth who pulled one back with 20 minutes left with a header from a corner.

The situation was repeated six minutes later to make the scoreline 3-2, but Rosyth were reduced to ten men in 80 minutes and two minutes after this Joe Kirby tucked the ball away to give Steve Kowbel a win in his first game as Berts’ boss.

The win pushes Lochgelly on to 23 points from 12 games, five behind second top Edinburgh United with two games in hand.

As secretary Ian Patrick said: “If we can win both these games in hand we are right back in the promotion hunt.”

Saturday’s fixtures: Scottish Junior Cup third round replay, Lochore Welfare v Forth Wanderers (1.30pm). Scottish Junior Cup third round, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Auchinleck Talbot, Crossgates Primrose v Beith (both ties 1.45pm).

East Super League, Dundonald Bluebell v Boness United. South Division, Armadale Thistle v Lochgelly Albert (1.45).