A NARROW cup win for Kelty Hearts and a good victory for Crossgates Primrose were the talking points in a truncated football card on Saturday.

Three matches fell foul of the very cold weather but Dundonald Bluebell’s hoodoo against Boness United continued at the weekend.

Kelty Hearts 2,

Camelon 0.

A FINE second-half performance against a stuffy Camelon pushed Hearts through to the semi finals of the Football Nation Qualifying Cup and photographer Jim Payne caught the action.

The first period saw both teams struggle to create a lot of clear chances.

Chris Dodd went close for the home side before Kelty ‘keeper Manderson had to pull off a great save from a good Camelon move.

In 22 minutes desperate defending by the visitors kept out a Ross Mutch effort then in 35 minutes Stuart Cargill sent Shaun Greig through but his finish was well saved.

Before the break Camelon threatened again when a free-kick hit the Hearts bar and at the break there were no goals.

The second period started well for Kelty and Errol Douglas went close and then the opener came from Dodd whose superb shot gave the ‘keeper no chance in 52 minutes.

Camelon came close shortly after but the finish went wide then Brian Ritchie’s header forced the ‘keeper into a good save.

With 20 minutes to go a fine ball from Stephen Husband send Ciaran Chalmers through but he fired straight at the ‘keeper.

Kelty needed a second and it came with just nine minutes left when Murray Carstairs got on the end of a corner and his header flew into the net.

That tied up the win against a typically well organised Camelon side and a semi tie against either Bonnyrigg Rose, Peebles Rovers or Jeanfield Swifts.

Boness United 3,

Dundonald Bluebell 1.

THE ‘Bell have played have now played Boness three times this season and not won any of them.

This time it was in an important East of Scotland League Conference B fixture that the teams met in but a sending off left Bluebell with a mountain to climb.

The early stages of the game saw Dundonald have a fair amount of the ball and a couple of half chances.

Boness did not really threaten the visiting goal but there was a major blow for the ‘Bell when central defender Craig Wedderburn was sent off for a second yellow.

That gave Boness a lift and they went for a goal before the interval and it came when Allan McKenzie slotted home.

The ‘Bell faced a difficult second period but started well enough without really getting two many clear openings.

However, Boness started to use their extra man effectively and a goal from Marty Wright effectively put the game out of their reach in 65 minutes.

Bluebell kept working hard and again a couple of half chances came to nothing but United were confident now and James Lennox made a couple of excellent saves but a third from Wright tied up the points for United.

The gallant ten soldiered on and a fine Calum Smith header made it 3-1 but really that was only by way of consolation.

Dundonald are still second top of the Conference but they will be glad that they should not have to meet Boness again this term.

Said manager Jason Dair: “I really felt the way we had played in the games leading up to this one that we could go there and win but they seem to have the something over us just now.

“Losing Craig was a big blow for it left us without a recognised central defender and they were able to exploit that.

“We have brought young central defender Liam McDade in on loan from Raith Rovers so that should help the resources, but we now have three home games coming up and need to win them to strengthen our bid to finish in the top two.”

Burntisland Shipyard 1,

Crossgates Primrose 5.

PRIMROSE had to mount a tremendous fight-back to take three EoS League Conference B points from this Fife derby.

The Shippy made a positive start to the game, created a couple of chances and went ahead in eight minutes when the visiting rearguard was caught out.

Crossgates went looking for an early leveller but they were defied by some excellent goalkeeping and brave defending.

However, six minutes from the break they got back into it when Scott Hynd finished well from close in.

That was it at the break but Primrose started the second period looking for goals and but again the home side worked hard to defy them.

Crossgates were getting frustrated at not getting a goal, but in 73 minutes the breakthrough came through a well taken goal from Mark McKenzie.

This opened the floodgates and Hynd made it 3-1 two minutes later and as the Shippy started to tire more chances came Crossgates’ way and with ten minutes to go Scott Lawrie slotted in a penalty after a foul tackle in the Burntisland box.

With seconds to go Blair Clark got a rare goal for him when he finished well following a set piece.

The result takes Crossgates on to 28 points and in third place, eight behind Dundonald with two games in hand.

Saturday’s fixtures, Lowland League, Kelty Hearts v Edu Sports Academy (3pm). East of Scotland League Conference A, Tweedmouth Rangers v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2pm). East of Scotland League Conference B, Dundonald Bluebell v Haddington Athletic (2pm), Lothian Thistle v Crossgates Primrose (2.30pm).

South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Livingston United (1.45pm). Thorntons Property East League Cup, Lochore Welfare v Kirkcaldy YM (1.45pm).