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

Lochore Welfare picked up a good South Division point but Lochgelly Albert lost out by the odd goal in seven.

East Stirling 3,

Kelty Hearts 3.

A DRAMATIC finish to this Lowland League game with the Shire twice fighting back to deny Hearts a win.

The Falkirk Stadium gave both teams plenty of space to develop chances and Kelty began the game well and took the lead in eight minutes.

A good move saw Hearts move the ball about well and in eight minutes Chris Dodd finished well from close in.

Scott Dalziel came close with a header as Kelty still looked the likelier side to get a goal but despite some good moves there was only the one goal in it at the break.

Hearts grabbed number two three minutes into the second period when Dodd’s shot was blocked by the ‘Shire ‘keeper but Dalziel was in the perfect position to slide the ball into the net.

With 13 minutes to go Shire pulled one back with a well converted free-kick but Hearts had been reduced to ten when ‘keeper Scott Christie was red carded for handling the ball outside the penalty area and East Stirling levelled.

However, the ten men rallied and sub Stuart Cargill put them ahead again in time added on but Shire went up the park and scored again to share the spoils.

It was another blow to Kelty’s hopes of keeping in touch with Lowland League leaders East Kilbride and now they are nine points adrift.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 6,

Oakley United 0.

AN emphatic win for the Haws which sees them in clear second top spot in East of Scotland League Conference A.

Oakley started well but gradually Hill of Beath took over and in 15 minutes a good home move involving Joe Kirby and Lyle Kellichan saw Ricky Patrick convert a good cross.

In 21 minutes the second came when a Kirby corner was perfect for Jake Mitchell to head home then on the half hour Josh Morris’s flick was perfect for Kirby to slip the ball past the ‘keeper.

The second period saw Oakley find themselves under a lot of pressure and Russell Grierson created the chance for Calum Adamson to round the ‘keeper and net in 55 minutes.

Soon after Grierson fed Charlie Denton and his cross was perfect for Daniel Watt to slot in number five.

There was no way back for Oakley and the sixth came from Kirby’s pass to Denton and his fine finish.

The result puts Haws on 33 points, six behind leaders Penicuik with two games in hand, and manager Kevin Fotheringham was very pleased with the performance: “The lads were a bit rusty in the early stages but once we got the first 20 minutes out of the way we really started to play well.

“The finishing was good and we are giving ourselves a good chance of keeping right in the mix for the title through to the end of the season.”

Burntisland Shipyard 0,

Dundonald Bluebell 7.

THIS EoS League Conference B game was over by midway through the first period.

It was a personal success for Calum Smith who hit four himself but the opener came in 10 minutes when Chris Gay steadied himself before firing home from 20 yards.

Soon after a good move saw Mike Ness supplied Archie Campbell with a good pass and he slotted in the second.

The Shippy were struggling now and he completed a good double before the break. The first came from a close in finish and then he turned in the middle of the box and fired a 12 yarder into the net.

Burnstisland were up against it and things got worse for them when Lewis McKenzie set Smith up and he sent his 13 yarder past the ‘keeper.

Young Keiran Dall, one of the Under 19s given some pitch time, then picked Smith out with a lovely cross and his finish went high into the net for number six.

The Shippy kept working away but never really threatened the ‘Bell net and late on Stuart Walton’s cross was met by McKenzie and his header made it seven.

Bluebell stay in second top spot, nine points clear of Boness and seven behind leaders Bonnyrigg and manager Jason Dair was happy with the first performance if 2019: “We scored early and that set the pattern.

“It was good to see some great finishing from the lads and Calum getting four, we just have to keep picking up wins to reach our aim of finishing in the top five clubs.”

Sauchie 1,

Crossgates Primrose 1.

A REALLY tough game for Primrose but they handled things well and were worth their EoS League Conference B point.

The opening stages were tight and neither side created much in the way of good chances and defences dominated.

However, Crossgates had a few half chances and were well worth being still very much in the picture at the break.

As time went on chances started to appear for both sides and there were openings which could have been developed for both teams.

Eventually Sauchie managed to fashion a few chances but Crossgates, with Andy Forbes working hard for them, never gave up and stayed right in the picture with Scott Lawrie's penalty conversion earning the draw.

The point has Crossgates in seventh place but they have opportunities in the second half of the season to get into the top five of the table.

Lochore Welfare 1,

Armadale Thistle 1.

IN their first South Division game since November Lochore Welfare were well worth their home point against second top Armadale.

Without having a game for seven weeks due to a variety of reasons, Lochore certainly looked a little rusty in the early stages and Thistle created a number of chances.

Gary Inglis was back in between the sticks for the Welfare and he had to make a couple of very good saves in the opening 20 minutes to keep his team in the game.

However, there was nothing he could do in the 25th minute when Armadale took the lead after a good move.

Lochore started the second-half well and started to carve out some good chances and Jamie McNeish went very close for them.

Thistle were struggling to contain the home side and Joe Kinninmonth finished well to level the game.

After that Adam Doig saw his volley go close and then Kinninmonth almost grabbed the winner.

However, in the closing seconds Scott Small handled on the edge of the box and after he was given a red card the Lochore defence kept the ball out.

The result has Welfare in seventh spot but only five points behind Thistle with games in hand, and manager James Adam was happy with his team came back into it after losing the goal: “We were a bit lucky in the early stages as we were very rusty after being out of action for a couple of months.

“However, Gary Inglis made several good saves and in the second period we were by far the better side.

“Our target is to get second spot in the table and a chance of making the Super League.”

West Calder United 4,

Lochgelly Albert 3.

ALBERT were very unlucky not to take something from this South Division game in the Lothians.

Indeed, the Berts started the game very well and grabbed the lead in eight minutes after a fine finish from Darren Ormiston.

Darren Thomson went close soon after but in 12 minutes United levelled and then ten minutes later West Calder took the lead from a corner.

Ricky Cooper came close twice to levelling before the break but a minute after the break he took an Ormiston pass and fired the ball into the top corner.

Then shortly after the Berts’ danger man struck again with another good finish and things were looking good for Lochgelly.

However, in 65 minutes a penalty saw United level the game after a mistimed tackle, but then one of the four young 17s players in the side received a second yellow and was sent off but the ten men battled on.

There were chances for both sides but with just four minutes to go West Calder grabbed the winner.

So the Berts stay bottom but manager Andy Healy was upbeat despite the result: “We had four 17s in the team due to injuries but they all did really well and there were chances for us to be 4-2 up.

“Going forward we were excellent, but perhaps a couple of the goals we conceded we should have avoided. Hopefully we can get points on the board over the coming weeks and get away from the foot of the table.”

Saturday’s fixtures, Lowland League, Kelty Hearts v Stirling University (3pm).

East of Scotland League Conference A, Musselburgh Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2pm). EoS League Conference B, Crossgates Primrose v Eyemouth United (2pm), Dundonald Bluebell v Sauchie (2pm).

Thorntons Property League Cup East, Stoneyburn v Lochgelly Albert (1.45), Livingston United v Lochore Welfare (1.45).