SATURDAY was a massive day for two local clubs playing their first ever William Hill Scottish Cup-ties.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn were at home to Blackburn United and Dundee Bluebell entertained Ayrshire junior cracks Auchinleck Talbot.

In league action Kelty Hearts made it three successive Lowland League victories but there were defeats for Crossgates Primrose and Lochgelly Albert while the Lochore Welfare game was off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Dundonald Bluebell 2,

Auchinleck Talbot 2.

A BIG day at Moorside as a crowd of over 500 saw the home team more than match Talbot in this Scottish Cup-tie.

The game was fast from the outset but both defences showed few nerves as the scoreline stayed blank in the first quarter of the game.

However, on the half hour Bluebell fell behind when Auchinleck found a good finish to get in front.

Bluebell made a couple of changes in their line-up at the break and they had a good start to the second-half and in 65 minutes they got level when John Smith, a player stepping up from the Under 20s, showed a cool head to net the equaliser.

Four minutes later the ‘Bell were in front. Mikey Ness hit a spectacular 30 yarder high into the net to give his team the lead.

However, two minutes later a hand ball incident gave Talbot a penalty. ‘Bell ‘keeper James Lennox blocked the spot-kick but in trying to clear the rebound he fouled the Talbot forward and it was another penalty and this time it was converted.

Both teams went out for a winner and Chris Gay got into a good position but his shot went inches over but at the end it took a fantastic save from Lennox to deny Auchinleck.

So it is a replay in Ayrshire with a 3pm start and Bluebell boss Lee Dair was proud of his team’s performance: “It was a very special day and what an atmosphere.

“We made a couple of changes at the break and we came right back at Talbot and got in front before Lenny’s remarkable experience.

“A great save and then he accidentally fouled the lad and they levelled the tie so it is a replay this weekend.

“The team set the standard in Saturday’s match and if we can reach that again we have a real chance of getting through.”

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Blackburn United 0.

A MASSIVE day for the Haws too and they produced a solid show to see off Blackburn in this William Hill Scottish Cup Prelim tie.

They got the benefit of an early goal. In eight minutes Lyle Kellichan sent over a perfect cross and Daniel Watt sent a close-in volley past the ‘keeper.

Then Rikki Patrick was sent clean through but couldn’t finish and there were other chances for the Haws but at the other end there were few chances for United.

Blackburn had player red carded when Daniel Watt was fouled when clean through but in 70 minutes the Haws were down to ten when Patrick was dismissed for a touch tackle.

Haws needed a second to complete the job and it came with five minutes to go when Lewis Payne created the opportunity by making ground in the Blackburn box and was hauled down and Lewis Elder converted from the spot to give Hill of Beath a second round tie at Threave Rovers on August 31.

Hill of Beath boss Kevin Fotheringham was pleased with the way his team tackled the occasion: “It was a big day for the club and the importing thing was getting the result.

“We defended really well as a team and limited their opportunities, and while we have played better, it was just what we needed on the day. Now we have to get our sights back on the league at Penicuik this weekend.”

Kelty Hearts 5,

Civil Service Strollers 0.

KELTY made short work of Strollers to move to second top spot in the Lowland League.

Strollers have been getting some good results but they were a goal down in only eight minutes when Nathan Austin nipped in between a couple of CS defenders to slip the ball into the net.

The home side were swarming forward and they grabbed a second six minutes later when Austin got into a good position and netted.

However, the striker had to go off after a knock before the half hour, but it did not stop Kelty continuing to press.

Strollers threatened before the break when they had a free-kick on the edge of the box but Ben Mackenzie saved well.

Hearts made a good start to the second period when a foul in the box saw a penalty and Scott Linton made an expert job of the spot-kick.

Four minutes later the game was over as a contest. Stephen Husband’s shot was blocked by the ‘keeper and Chris Dodd followed up to score.

Kelty kept going forward but the CS ‘keeper did well on a couple of occasions and four minutes from time the fifth came when Ross Mutch robbed a defender and supplied the chance for sub Stuart Cargill who fired home.

The result gives Kelty nine points from three games, one behind leaders Bonnyrigg Rose with a game in hand.

Crossgates Primrose 0,

Glenrothes 2.

THIS Alex Jack Cup first round tie saw the Primrose’s lean spell continue.

Glens came to Humbug Park with a lot of confidence and made a great start.

In two minutes they took the lead as the home defence was caught out.

Glenrothes kept moving forward well and in 11 minutes they scored a second after a decent move.

Crossgates started to come back in to the game but just could not get the goal they needed.

Two down at the break Primrose needed an early goal in the second period and they had some promising moves but could not finish.

They had a lot of the ball but a goal would not come and their Alex Jack Cup journey was over at the first round stage.

Rosyth 6,

Lochgelly Albert 2.

ROSYTH proved too strong for the Berts at HMS Caledonia in this South Division game.

Yet Lochgelly made a fantastic start and took the lead in just 50 seconds with a fine finish from all of 20 yards from James Gunn

In eight minutes Gunn was fouled in the box and Michael Perrie converted to double the lead..

However, in ten minutes the home side pulled one back and then five minutes later they squared the match.

There were more chances in the run up to the break but it was 2-2 at the change around.

The Berts went 3-2 down in 47 minutes and then conceded again in 50 minutes.

However, Sami Mitchell and Gunn went close to adding to the Lochgelly tally but a fifth goal for Rosyth goal more or less closed the game out.

Mitchell and Gunn again had chances but a late sixth tied things up.

It means the Berts have lost their opening three games and manager Andy Healy said: “It was a great start to the game but losing these two goals at the beginning of the second-half was poor.

“Overall it was a disappointing performance but on a plus not we have signed Ross Gallagher, an experienced defender who played for Queen’s Park and more recently with Neilston, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy and Renfrew, and hopefully he will tighten up our defensive work.”

Fixtures, Wednesday, Super League, Bathgate Thistle v Lochore Welfare (6.45pm). South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Newburgh (6.45pm).

Saturday, Scottish Cup First Preliminary Round, Auchinleck Talbot v Dundonald Bluebell (3pm). Lowland League, Cumbernauld Colts v Kelty Hearts (3pm).

East of Scotland Premier League, Penicuik Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2.30). Football Nation Cup second round, Ormiston Primrose v Crossgates Primrose (2.30). Super League, Lochore Welfare v Fauldhouse United (2.30). South Division, Stoneyburn v Lochgelly Albert (2.30).