DROPPED points for Kelty Hearts and convincing wins for Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell, were the main talking points from Saturday’s football card.

And the new management team at Lochore Welfare saw their team win in convincing fashion.

Kelty Hearts 1,

The Spartans 1.

CURRENT Lowland League champions Spartans were always going to tough opponents for Hearts but the hosts would feel they should have won this game.

Kelty started the game positively without having many chances but Stephen Husband forced a good save from the Edinburgh side’s ‘keeper in 20 minutes, then the visitors threatened a couple of times.

Hearts saw a couple of decent efforts which were blocked, but six minutes later, a header from the Spartans forward Tolmie flew into the net.

However, on the interval whistle Husband’s free-kick was saved by the ‘keeper.

The second period saw Hearts start well without getting many clear chances but Spartans went close with Scott Christie saving well from Smith.

Hearts were desperate to get level and veteran striker Scott Dalziel, back from injury, was sent on to spearhead the assault.

With 20 minutes left the chance came for a leveller from the spot after a rash challenge in the Spartans’ box. Husband fired the penalty into the net and it was game on.

Kelty went all out for the winner and Errol Douglas went close with a header but Spartans held on.

East Kilbride won their match so Hearts stay top but the gap is down to one point with a game more played.

Leith Athletic 0,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

THE Haws went to Leith looking for their ninth successive East of Scotland League Conference A win.

However, Athletic have been competing well in the set-up but Haws made an electrifying start to the game.

Leith were struggling to keep the eager Hill of Beath front line at bay and the opener came within two minutes when Lewis Elder fired the ball into the net after a good visiting move.

The visitors had all the momentum and there were chances for another and it came in six minutes when Calum Adamson used his pace to get the space to shoot home.

Leith were really struggling and in 15 minutes the third came with another trademark Elder finish.

The hosts found themselves completely out of the picture but they started to defend better and at the break the three goals separated the sides.

Leith did not really give Haws’ ‘keeper Stuart Hall too many problems but chances started to dry up for the visitors although Adamson and Elder came close to adding to the tally.

Hill of Beath are still three points behind Penicuik, with a game in hand, and manager Kevin Fotheringham was pleased with the result: “Leith are in the top half of the table so it was always going to be a test but we started the game so well.

“To get three goals so quickly put us in the box seat and it is good to stay right up there in the table.

“We have two difficult games coming up against Musselburgh the first of these on Saturday in the South Challenge Cup.”

Dundondald Bluebell 5,

Dunipace 0.

A GREAT performance from the ‘Bell who kept their challenge up in EoS League Conference B.

Dunipace have been having a tough time in this competition and they eventually found Dundonald too strong for them.

The ‘Bell faced the strong win in the first 45 minutes but still created some good chances, although good work by the Dunipace defence kept them out until the 40th minute when Calum Smith’s pass set up Archie Campbell who blasted home.

With the wind behind them in the second period the ‘Bell started to take complete charge and they got number two just after the restart when the ball broke from a corner and Smith did the needful from close in.

In 50 minutes a Campbell free-kick was parried by the ‘keeper and Smith again was in the right place to hit the net.

Dunipace were finding it hard going facing the wind and a Bluebell team stringing good moves together, and Smith completed his hat-trick to put the game out of sight.

The visitors found it hard to get forward and number five came with five minutes left through a Lewis McKenzie header to complete a good win for the Moorsiders.

Bluebell remain in second top spot, just two points adrift of Bonnyrigg Rose and manager Jason Dair was delighted with the performance: “Even against the wind we controlled the game and really missed a couple of very good chances.

“In the second period the goals started to come and it was a very good win which keeps us up there with Bonnyrigg.”

Crossgates Primrose 2,

Tynecastle 1.

A LATE winner gave Primrose all three Conference B points and maintains their mid-table status.

Crossgates made a great start to the game and took the lead in three minutes when after good work in midfield Darren Aitken fired them ahead.

Tynecastle looked to be struggling and there were other chances for Crossgates but the visitors held on.

They gradually came back into the game and in 23 minutes levelled things and that was the way the match stood at the break.

In the second-half Primrose had the better of the possession and created several good chances with Scott Lawrie being denied by the ‘keeper twice.

The longer the game went the more chances Crossgates created but a goal just would not come.

However, in the closing minute Steve Hynd forced the ball home and it ensured another win for Crossgates.

This result puts them on 15 points and in sixth spot.

Kirkcaldy YM 0,

Lochore Welfare 2.

A THIRD win in a row for the Welfare and this was their first game under complete management team spearheaded by James Adam.

He is being backed by assistant boss Gary Paterson, coach James Davies and goalkeeping coach Scott Donaldson, and they saw their team take a grip of this game in the early stages of the Thorntons Property East League Cup tie.

YM are a much better side this season but they struggled against the lively Lochore front line and in the early stages they found it hard to contain the visitors.

The opener came when the YM ‘keeper blocked a Kearyn Hicks free-kick but Jamie McNeish got to the rebound first and headed home.

YM tried to mount a comeback but they were held at bay by the Lochore defence and a second goal came when McNeish was hauled down in the box and he got up and converted the spot-kick.

There could have been other goals for Lochore before the break but Kirkcaldy got to the interval still in the game.

The second period was a little scrappy but still Welfare had the better chances and McNeish saw the ‘keeper twice deny him a hat-trick.

Lochore wanted a third but good defending kept them out although YM seldom threatened at the other end.

James Adam was delighted with the win in this sectional game: “It was a good result and a good first-half performance.

“The second period was a little scrappy but we were well worth the win with Jamie McNeish outstanding”.

Pumpherston 6,

Lochgelly Albert 0.

THIS Thorntons Property East Region League Cup sectional game was always going to be tough for the Berts against the current South Division leaders.

Yet Lochgelly started well and in five minutes Ricky Cooper got into a great position but he delayed his shot and the ‘keeper smothered his finish.

Then in 13 minutes Pumphy took the lead when a cross was not dealt with and the ball was slotted behind Sean Hunter.

Berts were still battling hard and they were right in the game but five minutes from the interval they lost a second.

However, a minute before the break Cooper’s curling shot came off a post.

Pumphy started the second half aggressively and Hunter had to make three good saves but in 57 minutes the third came for the home side.

The Albert went close through Hamish Munro but Pumpherston finished the game strongly and they hit three goals in a ten minute spell to go six up with still 15 minutes to go.

However, the Berts defence held out but new manager Andy Healy is well aware of the task he faces to turn things around at Gardiner’s Park.

Saturday’s fixtures, Football Nation Qualifying Cup second round, Dundonald Bluebell v Boness United. Central Taxis League Cup preliminary round, Crossgates Primrose v Dunipace. South Challenge Cup third round, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Musselburgh Athletic.

South Division, Rosyth Rec v Lochore Welfare. Thorntons Property East Region League Cup, Lochgelly Albert v Stoneyburn (kick-offs 2pm).