A GREAT fightback by Kelty Hearts earned them a Lowland League point but it was a disappointing performance by the Maroons while Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell kept their second top places in their respective Conferences.

However, top scorers of Saturday were Crossgates Primrose who hit double figures against Eyemouth United.

Kelty Hearts 2,

Stirling University 2.

A DISAPPOINTING result for Hearts in this important Lowland League game, but it could have been worse.

Kelty made a lively start to the game and there were several shots at the Uni goal but in nine minutes the Students took the lead after a foul in the Hearts box saw the spot-kick converted.

Three minutes later things got worse for the home side when Manderson, in for the suspended Scott Christie, seemed to keep the ball out after a Uni raid, but the referee said it crossed the line.

Kelty came back and Stuart Cargill and Chris Dodd went close but at the break the hosts were two down.

At the interval Stephen Husband and Shaun Greig were sent on and the home side dominated possession and had several decent openings with Cargill and Ross Mutch unlucky not to open the Kelty account.

However, with 16 minutes to go Hearts got one back. Husband’s shot was blocked by the ‘keeper and Cargill did the needful to bag his 162nd goal for the club, a record beating Tom Condie’s long standing achievement of some 25 years.

This completely opened up the game and two minutes later Hearts were level when Murray Carstairs fired the ball into the net from close in.

Hearts went for the winner and there were some close calls but the students held on.

So the result leaves Kelty 11 points adrift of leaders East Kilbride.

Musselburgh Athletic 1,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1.

HAWS battled back from an indifferent first-half performance to get a point which keeps then in second top spot in East of Scotland League Conference A.

Burgh opened the game very well and put Hill of Beath under pressure but the visitors defended solidly and the first quarter ended goalless.

Athletic continued to have the bulk of play and on the half hour they took the lead when Haws did not deal with a long ball and Burgh netted.

There were one or two half chances for the visitors but no goals.

Haws started the second-half much the better side and there were some decent openings and the leveller came after 70 minutes when Joe Kirby’s corner was headed home by Ricky Patrick.

This opened things up and Calum Adamson hit the post then in the closing minutes Hill of Beath came close to winning it.

Daniel Watt saw his header cleared off the line and then Patrick got in another header which was scrambled clear by the Burgh defence.

The result sees Haws in second spot on 34 points, eight adrift of leaders Penicuik with two games in hand.

Manager Kevin Fotheringham was very disappointed with the first-half show from his team: “We were just not at the races in the first-half.

“However, the second period was so much better and there were chances to have won it.

“Musselburgh are one of the best teams in Conference A so it was not a bad result and we are still in the race for the top spot if we can win these games in hand.”

Dundonald Bluebell 2,

Sauchie 0.

A VERY solid performance from Dundonald to stay in second top spot in EoS League Conference B.

Sauchie have being doing well in the Conference and started the game defending solidly but gradually the ‘Bell started to look dangerous.

On the half hour they went ahead when a cross from the right found Calum Smith and he took it down and fired the ball into the net from 12 yards.

There were other half chances for Dundonald to get a second but it was 1-0 at the break although in the second period the Moorsiders started to look more dangerous.

The second goal came with 20 minutes to go when Lewis McKenzie found Archie Campbell only a few yards out and he cleverly slotted the ball home.

There were chances for ‘Bell to get a third but all Sauchie’s hopes ended when Sauchie were reduced to ten men through a wild challenge.

Dundonald are 10 points clear in second spot but seven adrift of leaders Bonnyrigg.

Manager Jason Dair was pleased with the performance and win: “Sauchie have improved as the season has gone along and we knew they would be hard to break down.

"However, we defended really solidly and got the goals we needed.

“That’s three successive clean sheets and we just need to another few wins to cement our spot in the top division for next season.”

Crossgates Primrose 10,

Eyemouth United 1.

PRIMROSE had to come back from losing an early goal in this East of Scotland League Conference B game with the bottom side, but they did it in style.

After a relatively quiet start to the game Humbug was shocked in 17 minutes when United took the lead but the advantage lasted just four minutes when Scott Hynd completed a good move.

This started the Primrose goal machine up and four minutes later Hynd fired in another.

As Eyemouth now started to struggle Scott Lawrie made it 3-1 in 29 minutes, and a Dale Allan goal made the break score 4-1.

United were completely out of it now and it was one way traffic towards their goal and six minutes into the second period Allan saw Crossgates go nap.

More goals had to follow and in 53 minutes Hynd completed his hat-trick before Darren Aitken hit number seven on the hour.

Mark McKenzie grabbed an eighth in 72 minutes and goals from Barry Patterson and Lawrie completed the rout.

The result pushed Crossgates into fifth place where they want to finish the season.

Livingston United 2,

Lochore Welfare 2.

WELFARE are very much in with a chance of making progress in the Thornton’s Property League Cup East.

This sectional game started well for Lochore and there were three good chances for them in the opening five minutes but it was Livi who got the opener.

The home team settled a bit after that and had the better of things but Lochore got to the break only one adrift.

United grabbed a second early in the second-half but this only served to get Lochore moving forward more strongly and Joe Kinninmonth pulled one back.

It was all Lochore now and Livi had to defend in numbers to keep the visitors out but they could do nothing to stop Kinninmonth, who on Thursday signed a new contract at Lochore, firing in the equaliser.

Welfare boss James Adam was pleased with the result: “That point gives us a really good chance of qualifying from this group if we win our two remaining ties which are at home.

“We really should have led early in the game and had we done that we could have gone on to win it.”

Stoneyburn 1,

Lochgelly Albert 1.

ANOTHER encouraging performance from the Berts in this Thorntons Property League Cup East sectional game.

With four trialists in their ranks, Lochgelly started the game very positively and took the lead in eight minutes with a great finish by Darren Ormiston following good build-up work by Michael Perrie and Ricky Cooper.

This settled Lochgelly and they had some other good chances with the dangerous Cooper causing real problems for Stoneyburn and the home 'keeper made a spectacular save from his 35 yarder.

However, the home side were capable of creating some chances but at the break the Berts were a goal up.

The Berts started the second period well and Cooper and Darren Robertson set up trialist Jordan McKenzie who rounded the 'keeper but he could not force the ball into the net, then Scott Devaney's header brought out a fine save.

However, the Albert's achilles heal, defending corners, saw Stoneyburn level from a set piece and it took two good late saves from Berts 'keeper Sean Hunter to ensure a point.

Albert boss Andy Healy was happy with the overall show: "Conditions were not easy with a strong wind and a very heavy park, but we did create some good chances.

"Again, though, we lost a goal from a corner and it is something we will have to work on.

"We signed left sided player Euan Roberton from Lochore Welfare at the end of last week and hope to bring in at least another couple of guys soon."

Fixtures: tonight (Wednesday) South Region Challenge Cup 4th round Newtongrange Star v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (7.30).

Saturday, Football nation Qualifying Cup 4th round, Kelty Hearts v Camelon (3pm).

East of Scotland League Conference A, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Coldstream (2.30). East of Scotland League Conference B, Boness United v Dundonald Bluebell (2pm), Burntisland Shipyard v Crossgates Primrose (2pm).

South Division, Harthill Royal v Lochore Welfare (2pm). D J Laing East Region Cup, Dundee North End v Lochgelly Albert (2pm).