ALL six local sides were in action on Saturday but only two of them collected wins.

Kelty Hearts made it two out of two in the Lowland League while Dundonald Bluebell picked up a good East of Scotland Premier League victory at Newtongrange.

Caledonian Braves 1,

Kelty Hearts 4.

HEARTS produced an excellent performance at a potentially dangerous venue to record an impressive win over the ambitious former Edu Sport Academy side.

Kelty got the best possible start with a goal in seven minutes. Dylan Easton created the chance with a good run and then fired in a long range shot which hit a defender and beat the ‘keeper.

Two minutes later Hearts stretched the advantage when Nathan Austin burst through and sent a low shot into the net.

Kelty ‘keeper Ben Mackenzie made a good save but as the home side started to look more assured they pulled once back ten minutes from the break with a good finish after Hearts failed to clear.

The Maroons came back again and a Gary Cennerazzo cross was perfect for Easton to head home and make the break score 3-1.

The visitors started the second period well and Murray Carstairs' header, following a corner, was held by the Braves’ ‘keeper but in 66 minutes the points were tied up.

From Scott Linton’s corner Danny Ashe got on the end of it and his header flew into the net.

The result has Hearts a point off the top of the table with game in hand.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0,

Dunbar United 1.

HAWS found stuffy Dunbar so hard to break down and suffered their first East of Scotland Premier League defeat.

After beating Jeanfield Swifts last midweek this looked an ideal opportunity to stretch their unbeaten run but Dunbar had other ideas.

They defended very efficiently and in the early stages Hill of Beath created few chances.

There was not much happening at either end and it looked like this could be a goalless draw.

However, in 35 minutes a 30 yard drive flew into the net and Haws were chasing the game.

The home side had a chance when Calum Adamson got in a good shot after a corner but the ‘keeper made a good save.

Haws huffed and puffed around the Dunbar box without really getting anything menacing away and chances would not come and United held on for an unexpected three points.

Haws manager Kevin Fotheringham was very disappointed with his team’s performance: “Everything we did right against Jeanfield during the week we did wrong in this one.

“It was as poor a performance I have seen from us over the past two years and we will have to do a lot better this coming Saturday in our first ever Scottish Cup-tie against Blackburn United.

“Our work rate was way below standard and that was simply not good enough.”

Newtongrange Star 0,

Dundonald Bluebell 3.

ANOTHER compact performance from the ‘Bell as they defended well and finished clinically.

Star were in this game in the first period and saw a lot of the ball but did not really create many chances although they found themselves struggling in the latter stages to contain the eager visitors.

The 'Bell did not create much at all in the first-half but that changed after the break when the Moorsiders started to move the ball about better and in 55 minutes they took the lead when Matty Gay finished well from only ten yards out shooting high into the net.

As Star found the ‘Bell width hard to deal with the second came ten minutes later when a fine cross was perfect for Alan Smith to head home.

Newtongrange were struggling now and with around 20 minutes to go another Smith header wrapped up the points.

The result has the ‘Bell on four points, following their midweek draw with Boness and in the top half of the table, and sets them up for this week’s Scottish Cup First Preliminary tie with Auchinleck Talbot at Moorside.

‘Bell boss Lee Dair was pleased with the way his team took charge of the game after half-time: “We were not really good enough in the first-half but once we sorted things out at the break we took charge.

“The finishing was good and it was nice to get our first win although we came within seconds of beating Boness in last midweek’s 2-2 draw. “

Looking ahead to the Cup-tie he said: “It is a really historic day for the club and having opposition in the shape of Auchinleck makes it a really big occasion.

“They will be very difficult opponents but we are at home and we want to give our supporters a good day.”

Crossgates Primrose 1,

Boness United 6.

THIS was always going to be a tough ask for the Primrose but they did not defend well and Boness took advantage to run up a big win, see Ted Milton's pictures from Humbug Park.

Crossgates found themselves in arrears inside three minutes but Primrose tried to come back at United and did create a couple of chances.

But in 23 minutes they lost a second from the spot after a foul in the box.

Seven minutes later Crossgates were back in the game when they were awarded a penalty and Adam Moffat converted.

However, in 35 minutes the Primrose defence was caught out again as Boness extended their lead and three minutes later another penalty opportunity gave the visitors the chance to make the half-time score 4-1.

Unbelievably, as the Primrose defence struggled, another penalty saw United go nap and a sixth in 65 minutes left the hosts in all sorts of trouble.

They rallied in the closing stages but they were too far adrift to get back in the game and the result leaves Primrose at the foot of the table.

Livingston United 3,

Lochore Welfare 0.

NOT the start to the Super League the Welfare wanted but a sending off changed the way the game went.

The game started with both defences working hard and chances were few but on the half hour Lochore’s Euan Sutherland was fouled in the Livi box but the referee waved play on.

That could have opened the game up but at the break there were no goals.

In the second period Lochore assistant manager, James Davies was sent to the changing rooms after the referee felt he had complained about a decision, and then Kieryan Kicks was sent off after a hard tackle and Livi grabbed the opener.

Joe Kinninmonth had a couple of good runs bit couldn’t get a telling shot away and United used their numerical advantage to add two late goals.

Welfare boss James Adam was not downhearted by the result: “It was a tight game and we were very much in with a chance of getting the first goal, especially when Euan Sutherland was clearly fouled in the box but the referee appeared not to see it.

“Losing Hicks was a blow and they got in front and the two late goals were a little unfair on the lads.

“The first goal was always going to be decisive in such an even game and had the penalty been awarded it would have been crucial.”

Lochgelly Albert 2,

Boness United JFC 3.

THE Berts opened their South Division campaign with this game against Boness and produced a decent performance but they paid the penalty for a bits of defensive slackness.

Lochgelly were always in the game but at the end of the day were just outgunned by the young team playing under the flag of the Boness Community Club.

The new look Lochgelly team took an early lead when Adam Haddow sent Sammi Mitchell through and he was hauled down in the box with Michael Perrie converting the spot-kick.

However, within two minutes a Boness player found space and his pass was converted.

The Berts came back into it and put together some good moves and eight minutes from the break a fine three man move saw Haddow start things with a pass to James Gunn and took the return before sending Mitchell through and he finished well.

Ahead at the break things were looking good but carelessness at the start of the second period saw them concede the equaliser within 15 seconds!

Then six minutes later a shot from a tight angle gave Boness the lead for the first time and for a spell the visitors took over, but in the closing ten minutes the Albert came back and Ewan Robertson hit the bar with the last kick of the match.

Berts boss Andy Healy was frustrated at losing the game and commented: “We played really well in the first-half and should have scored more than two goals.

“Real carelessness at the start of the second period saw us hand the initiative to Boness and for about half an hour we lost our way, but we could have levelled near the end.

“I feel that we can be really competitive in this interesting division with four new teams in it.”

Fixtures, Wednesday, Super League, Lochore Welfare v Pumpherston (6.45). South Division, Syngenta FC v Lochgelly Albert (6.45).

Saturday, Lowland League Kelty Hearts v CS Strollers (3pm). Scottish Cup Preliminary Round 1, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Blackburn United (3pm), Dundonald Bluebell v Auchinleck Talbot (3pm). Alex Jack Cup first round, Crossgates Primrose v Glenrothes (2.30pm).

Super League, Lochore Welfare v Harthill (2.30). Rosyth Recreation v Lochgelly Albert (2.30).