HILL of Beath Hawthorn and Lochore Welfare are facing dramatic ends to their seasons after Saturday’s results sees them both right in the frame for success.

Meanwhile Crossgates Primrose recorded a fine win at Haddington to get ever closer to qualifying for next season’s top division but Lochgelly Albert lost heavily at Bathgate.

Peebles Rovers 1,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 6.

A BIG win for Haws, which keeps them in with a chance of finishing the season with the East of Scotland League Conference A title.

The Keirs Parkers headed for the Borders knowing they needed a big win to keep the pressure on leaders Penicuik Athletic and they took the lead in three minutes.

Joe Kirby sent over a lovely cross and Jake Mitchell fired an unsaveable volley into the net and Rovers were in trouble.

Five minutes later Daniel Watt found Lewis Elder with a good cross and he despatched the ball past the ‘keeper.

However, within a few minutes carelessness at the back by the visitors allowed the home side to pull one back.

Haws knew they needed more goals and hemmed Peebles in but they had to wait until the 35th minute when Kirby fired home from the edge of the box and on the interval Kevin Conners fired a header into the net from a Kirby corner.

Meanwhile the woodwork also played a part in keeping Haws out but as the second period unfolded a fifth goal would not come, until with 20 minutes left, Greg Smith curled an 18 yarder wide of the ‘keeper.

Again the bar saved Peebles but with 12 minutes left Kirby raced through and cleverly lobbed the ‘keeper.

The result leaves Haws with two games left on 56 points and they need to win at Newtongrange in midweek then look to beat Easthouses Lily on Saturday when Penicuik play Musselburgh, then see how the Lothians side do.

Said Haws boss Kevin Fotheringham: “We started the game very well but lost our way a bit after the break.

“We really needed to win by as many as possible to keep our goal difference building but clearly we have to look after our own position to make Saturday a big day.”

Livingston United 0.

Lochore Welfare 0.

AN impressive performance from the Welfare against the second top side in the South Division and the result leaves their promotion hopes very much in their own hands.

A blank scoreline, but only good goalkeeping and woodwork denied them a win.

In the first-half especially, Lochore dominated possession and early on Joe Kinninmonth went close.

As the Welfare continued to look the better side Logan Donaldson thumped the Livi post with a fierce finish.

Lochore ‘keeper Gary Inglis had little to do as his midfield were in complete charge but at the break there were no goals.

The second-half saw Lochore continue to have more of the ball but clear openings were fewer, although Jamie McNeish saw his 20 yard volley pull off a superb save from the Livi last line.

Inglis continued to see little of the ball but there might have been a penalty when Todd Arthur was bundled over in the Livi box but the referee waved play on.

The game ended square and while Livi are already in next season’s Super League, if Lochore can beat West Calder United and Harthill Royal in their closing two games they will join them.

Welfare boss James Adam was happy with his team’s performance: “Livingston have been having a great run but we were always in control of possession and were unlucky not to score twice in the first period.

“The second-half was a little scrappy, as the strong wind allied to the very dry surface made control a little more difficult, but Gary Inglis will seldom have had a quieter afternoon.

“The arithmetic is simple, if we win at West Calder and Harthill we will be in the Super League and that has to be our aim.”

Haddington Athletic 1,

Crossgates Primrose 4.

A POWERFUL second-half performance have Primrose the win they needed to stay in fifth spot in East of Scotland League Conference B.

The first period saw Haddington, still in with a chance themselves for a top five spot, look to get the opener, but they found the Crossgates defence in form.

The visitors had a strong grip of things but despite a couple of good chances Athletic managed to hold out until the 36th minute when Scott Lawrie converted from the spot after a rash challenge in the home box .

Crossgates needed to stretch their lead early in the second period to take command but Haddington were battling and the goal would not come.

Then with 24 minutes left the second came when Dale Allan was on the spot to net.

Haddington started to fall apart and Lawrie made it 3-0 with 11 minutes to go.

The striker completed his hat-trick a minute later and although Haddington pulled one back late on from the spot, it was only about putting a better reflection on the result.

So Crossgates are tantalisingly close to their prize of a top five finish to qualify for the Premier League.

If they win two of their last three games they will definitely make their target.

Bathgate Thistle 5,

Lochgelly Albert 0.

THE Berts lost an early goal and never really recovered in this South Division game.

Lochgelly were without 12 players for this one and used a number of 17s who equipped themselves well.

Although Lochgelly started well enough they were caught out in eight minutes when a neat finish after a Bathgate forward burst into the box, saw the opener.

Albert tried to get back into it and created a couple of half chances but in 27 minutes a 20 yarder doubled the Thistle lead.

In the second period Bathgate went 3-0 up after 49 minutes but one of the Berts' 17s, Kyle Campbell, beat two defenders and his pass gave Darren Ormiston a view of the Thistle goal but a fine save from the home ‘keeper denied him.

A fourth goal after the hour mark gave Bathgate a good lead and although the Berts kept working away they could not get a goal despite another youngster, Calum Jarvis sending Declan Boyle clean through but he fired wide.

Then Ewan Robertson provided a cross and Joe Dawson volleyed over from 10 yards.

With 20 minutes to go a fifth left the Berts completing their programme with 14 points, but not before a Robertson corner came back off the Bathgate bar.

Said Berts boss Andy Healy: “Being so many players short saw a number of the 17s getting pitch time and they did very well.

“However, Bathgate are still in with a chance of the Super League and they kept coming at us but the lads kept competing.”

Big weekend for clubs seeking success

SATURDAY sees important games for three local sides.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn can finish at worst runner-up in East of Scotland Conference A is they win at Easthouses and Lochore Welfare can come ever so close to the East Super League with a win at West Calder.

Meanwhile Crossgates Primrose could clinch a place in next season's East of Scotland Premier League with a win over one of their rivals, Dalkeith Thistle.

Fixtures, tonight (Wednesday), Boness United v Crossgates Primrose (6.45pm).

Saturday, Lowland League, Kelty Hearts v East Kilbride (3pm). East of Scotland League Conference A, Easthouses Lily v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2.30). East of Scotland League Conference B, Dundonald Bluebell v Tynecastle (2.30), Crossgates Primrose v Dalkeith Thistle (2.30).

South Division, West Calder United v Lochore Welfare (2.30). League Cup, Kennoway Star Hearts v Lochgelly Albert (2.30).