Berts earn cup replay up north

There were disappointments for Crossgates Primrose and Lochore Welfare, though, while the Dundonald Bluebell game was postponed.

Kelty Hearts 3,

Gala Fairydean 0.

AFTER the poor showing against Auchinleck in the William Hill Scottish Cup Hearts, were desperate to get back into winning form when Gala came to New Central Park in a Lowland League fixture (see Ted Milton's pictures from new Central Park).

And in the opening moments the Borders team were under the cosh and had to defend well to stay in touch.

Kelty had to make an early substitution when Sean McKirdy had to go off and Cammy Russell went on, but they still attacked strongly and Chris Dodd and Scott Linton went close for them but still Fairydean held on.

But in 32 minutes Hearts took the lead when Ross Philp fired a good shot in at the far post.

Gala came back at them though and it took a timely Tam Scobbie blockfor them to keep the lead at the break.

Seven minutes into the second period Fairydean were down to ten after a wild tackle on Linton.

Two minutes later Hearts doubled their lead when Nathan Austin caused bother in the Gala box and Russell clipped the ball home.

The ten men were under pressure now and in 63 minutes Austin made it 3-0.

Gala never gave up and Ben Mackenzie had to make a good save late on to preserve his shut out.

The result has Hearts in second top spot in the Lowland League, a point behind Bonnyrigg Rose, with a game in hand.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Penicuik Athletic 0.

A SCOTTISH Junior Cup winner for the Haws, John Mitchell, took on the caretaker manager role for this East of Scotland Premier League game, after Kevin Fotheringham stepping down in midweek, and saw the team produce a fine performance.

Athletic are a good side and had a lot of possession, but Hill of Beath defended solidly and put together a good show.

Haws had a couple of good raids in the early stages and in 15 minutes took the lead.

Lyle Kellichan’s corner found Lewis Elder who scored with a spectacular finish.

Cuiky were struggling to make much of an impact and on the half hour they fell further behind.

Sean Leishman’s pass sent Calum Adamson racing into the Penicuik box and fired a shot wide of the ‘keeper.

Athletic came back at Haws but were unable to force James Donaldson into any heroics.

Hill of Beath opened the second period looking for the third goal which would have finished the game but Cuicky were determined to make a fight of it.

Clear chances were few in the opening 20 minutes but Donaldson had to pull off a couple of good saves, although at the other end Daniel Watt was defied by the Athletic ‘keeper.

In the closing minutes Penicuik really turned up the pressure on the home side but they could not find a way past Donaldson and the win took Haws on to 14 points from their seven games, and second top spot, one behind leaders Boness United.

John Mitchell was delighted with the way the team handled the match: “It was a difficult week for the squad but they did superbly against Penicuik.

“They kept at it throughout the 90 minutes and maintained their shape, and always looking capable of scoring.

“James Donaldson and his defenders were superb and it was a great day for the team.”

The club’s development manager, who was left-back in Jock Finlayson’s team which won the Scottish Junior Cup, is happy to take on the caretaker role and enjoyed Saturday: “The committee are gathering applications for the job and I will be happy to fill in until they make their choice for the position.”

Camelon 2,

Crossgates Primrose 1.

CROSSGATES came so close to taking something from this East of Scotland Premier League fixture.

In the first half Primrose were the better side and deservedly led at the interval.

Crossgates had Dunfermline youth ‘keeper, Craig Burt, between the sticks for this one but he was not overworked in the first period as the visitors produced some good attacks.

Scott Lawrie was a real thorn in the Camelon flesh and posed problems for the home side and in 28 minutes his header put the visitors in front.

There were other chances for the Humbug men and Allan and Lawrie could have got the key second goal.

Camelon started the second-half well and drew level in 51 minutes and for a spell looked the livelier side.

However, Crossgates stayed in touch and a couple of half chances gave them the opportunity to go ahead.

None were taken and three minutes into time added on Camelon grabbed the winner, which was very harsh on the visitors.

Crossgates are one of four sides on six points in the table and need to get a win to ease their concerns in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

Lochore Welfare 1,

Brechin Vics 2.

A POOR start to this Scottish Junior Cup second round tie cost the Welfare dear.

The Central Park pitch passed a referee’s inspection after heavy rain on Friday and the surface was a little soft in places.

However, it was Brechin who started the more prominent side and took the lead in 20 minutes.

Fraser McGuire lost the ball near his own box and a cut back saw a tap in.

Lochore just could not get into the game and there were few good opportunities for them.

Things got worse for the home side three minutes into the second-half slack when marking saw a corner create the opening for the second Vics goal.

Soon after the visitors were reduced to ten men but then a second yellow for Ewan Stirling saw Lochore reduced in numbers.

However, Joe Dawson struck to pull one back and it saw Lochore finish the game strongly with a series of corners and in the closing seconds Kieryan Hicks’ headed on to Matty Christie whose header was brilliantly saved by the Vics' 'keeper.

Welfare boss, James Adam, was bitterly disappointed with his team’s performance: “We were so flat in the first-half and I wondered if it was because the weather of Friday made our lads think that the pitch would be unplayable.

“However, they should be really up for every game and this was a Scottish Cup-tie but they did not respond until Joe’s goal.

“We finished the game well but it was too little too late. We did not deserve anything from that game.”

Burghead 2,

Lochgelly Albert 2.

THE Berts were worth a replay and could have got through this tie, played near Elgin.

Lochgelly made a good start and James Gunn, who had felt his knee in the warm-up but started, hit the side net in five minutes after rounding the ‘keeper.

Andy Stark’s 40 yard chip then went close but Burghead had some good possession at times without bothering Shaun Hunter in the Berts' goal.

Euan Robertson then got into a good position but saw his shot roar inches wide.

A minute from the break the opener came when Ryan Kinness worked a move with Ross Gallagher and the defender let rip from 30 yards and the ball flew into the net.

Burghead started the second period well but Lochgelly defended solidly although in 65 minutes a ball bounced up and struck a Berts defender on the arm in the box.

The resultant penalty was blocked by Hunter but the ball rolled back to the striker and he netted the rebound.

The Albert were soon back on the attack and a move involving Ryan Hughes and Stephen Stark set up Sami Mitchell, who replaced Gunn at the break, and from 35 yards he chipped the ‘keeper to restore the lead.

With six minutes left the leveller came from a deep cross, but the Berts went for the winner and Declan Boyle went close as did Robertson, from a Mitchell pass.

So it is on to a replay at Gardiner’s Park this Saturday.

Berts boss, Andy Healy, was disappointed not to win the tie: “We made a slowish start to the game but once we got going there were a good few chances created and really we should have been more than one up at the break.

“They came back at us after the interval but still there were chances for us, but on the plus side we are now six games undefeated and we are out to win the replay this Saturday.”

Saturday’s fixtures, Lowland League, Berwick Rangers v Kelty Hearts (3pm).

East of Scotland Premier League, Broxburn v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2.30), Crossgates Primrose v Linlithgow Rose (2.30), Tranent v Dundonald Bluebell (2.30).

Macron Scottish Junior Cup second round replay, Lochgelly Albert v Burghead (2.30). Super League, Lochore Welfare v Armadale Thistle (2.30).