Kelty warm up for TV date with fine win

Meanwhile both Lochore Welfare and Lochgelly Albert produced winning performances on the junior scene.

Vale of Leithen 1,

Kelty Hearts 6.

HEARTS went south confident of making round three of the South Challenge Cup and the struggling hosts were literally blown away.

Vale have been struggling in the Lowland League and although they grabbed an early lead they found the going really hard.

However, in 14 minutes the hosts took the lead when the Kelty defence was caught out.

And for a spell Hearts found it hard to break through but on the half hour the equaliser came after a foul in the Vale box and Nathan Austin levelled from the spot.

Two minutes later Murray Carstairs scored a second and at the break Hearts led 2-1.

Kelty started the second period well and in 55 minutes Chris Dodd added number three and two minutes later the game was over when Austin fired in a low drive.

The Vale defence was in total disarray and it was now a case of how many and in 63 minutes Austin completed his hat-trick.

Kelty kept looking for more goals and only some good goalkeeping delayed it until the last minute when sub Scott McBride fired home.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Whitehill Welfare 1.

A GREAT start to this South Challenge tie for Haws but they ended up having to work hard to make round three (see Ted Milton's pictures from Keirs Park).

The opener came in four minutes when Calum Adamson made a good run and his cross found Daniel Watt and his shot beat the ‘keeper from six yards.

Soon after a corner found Joe Kinninmonth and his shot was met by Regan Lumsden who guided the ball into the net.

However, Welfare came back and a spectacular 25 yarder pulled one back from them but then they were reduced to ten when a bad foul on Adamson saw a red card produced.

But Haws just did not respond to this and the game became very flat.

The second period saw the home side have a lot of the ball but few chances and really only Kinninmonth, who twice went close, carried any real danger.

To be fair Welfare carried little threat and the game petered out with Haws in the hat for round three.

Hill of Beath manager Kevin Fotheringham was disappointed with the way his team played after their opponents went down to ten men: “We were excellent in the first 25 minutes, and scored two good goals, but after they pulled one back and went down to ten men we strangely started to fall out of the picture.

“There was no threat to our lead but we should have been looking to get more goals and finish the tie.

“However, we are through to the next round and we can now concentrate on our William Hill Scottish Cup first round tie with Gretna 2008 in the Borders this weekend.

“It is a big game for the club and we have to look to produce our best form in this one.”

Penicuik Athletic 5,

Dundonald Bluebell 2.

A GOOD start to this South Challenge tie evaporated for the ‘Bell in the second period, with a penalty decision and red card proving crucial.

Dundonald made a good start to the tie and four minutes Dan Nimmo headed a Chris Gay just over and then Gay saw a free-kick brilliantly saved by the Athletic ‘keeper.

The ‘Bell were the better side at this stage and Calum Smith’s effort was spectacularly tipped over but in 32 minutes Cuiky took the lead.

Nine minutes into the second-half Bluebell levelled when Smith supplied Stuart Cargill who netted from close in.

Then soon after Gay fired a free-kick into the net to make it 2-1 for the visitors but a penalty and red card was to turn the game.

A James Mackie tackle saw the penalty awarded and and the Bluebell player getting a red card and conversion of the spot kick left the game level and the visitors down to ten.

With 15 minutes left Cuiky took the lead and a goal six minutes from time virtually decided the tie although there was still time left for a fifth goal.

‘Bell boss Lee Dair felt the penalty decision was crucial to the result: “I felt the decision was very harsh and it was made even worse when a red card was produced.

“We had been playing well but the decision saw an equaliser for Penicuik and us down to ten men.

“When they went 3-2 up we had to commit men forward to try and get back into the game and they made their man advantage tell in the closing minutes as we chased an equaliser.”

Caledonian Braves 4,

Crossgates Primrose 0.

THE Primrose found Lowland League Braves too hot to handle in this South Challenge Cup game.

Crossgates started brightly but could not get in front and in 16 minutes Braves went ahead and it proved a key moment.

Primrose tried hard to get back into the picture but there were no goals for them and a second home goal before the break left the visitors with a mountain to climb.

Crossgates started the second period brightly and some good defensive work by the Braves kept them out.

In 64 minutes Caledonian grabbed number three and the tie was more or less settled.

Primrose kept battling and had a couple of chances to pull one back but a fourth with three minutes to go finished things off.

Linlithgow Rose JFC 0,

Lochore Welfare 4.

A GOOD result for the Welfare and a much needed win in this Fife and Lothians Cup-tie which should boost the confidence of the Lochore squad.

The game saw the Welfare start well and the Linlithgow side struggled to contain them.

However, it took to the visitors until the 35th minutes to go ahead but it was a lovely finish by Aaron Wood to give them the advantage.

This saw Lochore step up the pace and they grabbed a second before the break when Ben Rolland went on a good run and beat several defenders before firing home.

After the break it was a case of how many as Linlithgow struggled badly and there were plenty of chances for Lochore.

Logan Donaldson fired in number three as Rose started to find the pace too much for them, and only some good goalkeeping kept the visitors out.

Welfare kept going forward and Donaldson added a fourth to take Lochore to the second round of the Fife and Lothians Cup.

The result saw a rare win for the Welfare this season and manager James Adam was pleased with the performance: “It has been a hard start to the season for us but this cup-tie saw us produce a good all round show.

“We took our goals well and hopefully it will provide the boost we need to start winning in the league.

Lochgelly Albert 1,

Kirkcaldy and Dysart 0.

A SECOND South Division win for the Berts and a result which moved them up into the lower middle of the table.

Lochgelly made a good start and James Gunn hit the side net with a shot before a free-kick from the striker had Kirkcaldy under pressure and then Stephen Stark tested the visiting ‘keeper.

In 27 minutes Lochgelly went ahead when a fine move down the right ended with Gunn shooting home.

There were few chances for Kirkcaldy but before the break Berts’ ‘keeper Shaun Hunter made a good save.

The second period saw few good openings for either side but in 70 minutes Ryan Hughes sent over a good cross to Stark and his header came back off a post.

The game petered out but good defensive work by the Albert earned the win which sees them on seven points.

Berts manager, Andy Healy, was delighted with the result: “We defended very well as a team and that was important in difficult conditions with a strong wind blowing down the park.

"Another clean sheet and four games undefeated is very encouraging but we have to keep improving our performances.”

Scottish Cup tests

THIS weekend sees the William Hill Scottish Cup first round proper and two local sides are seeking the chance to make round two when the Ladbrokes League 2 clubs enter the competition.

Kelty Hearts are at home to Ayrshire junior cracks Auchinleck Talbot, on Friday night, in a match which will be televised live on the new BBC Scotland channel with a 7.05pm start.

Meanwhile Hill of Beath Hawthorn travel to Gretna 2008 to play the Lowland League side and both local sides have a good chance of making the second round.

Fixtures: Friday, William Hill Scottish Cup first round, Kelty Hearts v Auchinleck Talbot (7.05pm). Saturday, William Hill Scottish Cup first round, Gretna 2008 v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (3pm).

East of Scotland Premier League, Dundonald Bluebell v Crossgates Primrose (2.30). South Super League, Whitburn v Lochore Welfare (2.30). South Division, Lochgelly Albert v West Calder United (2.30).