ONLY four matches went ahead on Saturday and these ended up with wins for Dundonald Bluebell and Lochgelly Albert, but Crossgates Primrose and Hill of Beath Hawthorn lost.

Kelty Hearts’ Lowland League game with BSC Glasgow was postponed due to the scheduled visitors having a William Hill Scottish Cup replay, while the Lochore Welfare match with Whitburn was also off due to ground conditions.

Boness United 1,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0.

THE Haws finished with nine men in this match, at the East of Scotland League Premier League leaders, but played pretty well against a team which has been winning a lot of games.

United started the game pretty well but the Hill of Beath defence was in good form and kept them in check.

James Donaldson made a couple of good saves to keep the score level, but at the other end Michael Watt saw a shot blocked in the Boness six yard box.

Ricky Patrick also went close for the Haws but at the other end the visitors had to be on the alert to ensure the scoreline at the break was level.

Haws received a major blow ten minutes into the second-half when Rory Harrower was given a straight red card for a hard challenge in midfield and five minutes later the opening goal came when the ball was flicked over the Boness striker’s shoulder and the strong wind carried it into the corner of the net.

Soon after Shaun Leishman pulled down an attacker in the box he was given his second yellow and sent off and Donaldson pulled off a grand penalty save to keep his team in the game.

The nine men battled on and towards the end had a couple of raids which could have brought a leveller.

It was John Mitchell’s first game since his appointment as boss and he was pleased with the spirit shown by his team at a difficult venue: “Boness are a big strong side and try to put you under pressure by getting the ball into the box quickly, but we dealt well with that in the first-half.

“Losing Rory was a big blow and it was a strange goal that decided it because the guy flicked it over his shoulder and the wind grabbed the ball.

“Going down to nine at a place like Boness is never a good thing but the lads kept at it and showed good spirit to kept fighting hard.

“It was disappointing to lose but we are getting players back from injury and we will be looking to get a win over Musselburgh this coming weekend.”

Dundonald Bluebell 3,

Whitehill Welfare 1.

THE ‘Bell used the windy conditions perfectly at Moorside to take the game away from visitors Whitehill in this East of Scotland Premier League game.

The strong wind was going straight down the park and Dundonald had it in the first period and attacked strongly from the kick-off and in seven minutes they took the lead.

Mikey Ness made a good run and his cross was perfect for Calum Smith and his volley gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0. A corner was nodded-on by Smith and Ross Drummond appeared at the back post to knock the ball home.

The ‘Bell were attacking relentlessly and in 35 minutes the third came when Ness sent Stuart Cargill through and he made his usual clinical job of scoring.

However, on the interval whistle Welfare got into the box and Aiden Hendry fouled the striker and a penalty was the decision, but James Lennox made a fine save.

Whitehill had the wind in the second period and the Bluebell had to defend well as the visitors used the elements to cause danger, but Lennox was on his game and made a couple of good saves.

However, Bluebell had a couple of chances themselves but they could not get a fourth, and although Welfare got one back late on it made no difference to the result.

The win has Bluebell in fifth place, 11 points behind the leaders Boness but with four games in hand!

Said ‘Bell boss Lee Dair: “We started the game very well and could have had more than three before the break.

“We knew they would use the wind to put us under pressure but we handled it well and there were chances in the second period for us.

“If we can win the games in hand we could put pressure on the top end of the table but we will have to wait and see.”

Tranent 4,

Crossgates Primrose 2.

A SECOND-HALF fade saw Primrose lose an East of Scotland Premier League game they looked in control of for long spells.

Crossgates started well and grabbed the lead in four minutes when the Tranent rearguard were hoodwinked by Archie Campbell and he coolly slotted the ball into the net.

There were other chances for the Primrose with Scott Lawrie going close, as did Darren Aitken, while the Primrose defence was dealing well with the Tranent raids.

Crossgates really needed a second before the break but some good goalkeeping by the home last line defied them.

The goal did come 11 minutes into the second period and it was Campbell again who hit the target but within five minutes the home side pulled one back.

This changed the flow of the game and two minutes later the scores were level.

However, Primrose managed to settle down and started to keep Tranent out but with nine minutes to go the hosts took the lead as the visiting defence started to struggle.

Primrose were trying to search for a second but it was Tranent who got the fourth to seal their fightback.

Lochgelly Albert 7,

West Calder United 0.

BOTTOM of the South Division, West Calder, were no match for the Berts who attacked incessantly throughout the game.

In the opening minutes James Gunn hit the bar and then in 21 minutes he latched onto a clearance and ran through to beat the ‘keeper.

Two minutes later Gunn curled a corner in which deceived the ‘keeper and Lochgelly were in charge.

Euan Robertson was only denied by a great save then in 38 minutes Gunn was fouled in the penalty area and he converted the spot-kick to completed his hat-trick.

West Calder could make little headway and before the break Ryan Kinnes created the opening for Robertson who cleverly chipped the ‘keeper to make it 4-0 at the break.

Berts threw Sami Mitchell on at the break and he started causing problems for West Calder and in 48 minutes Blair Clark’s corner was headed home by Craig McGuinness.

On the hour Mitchell worked a good move with Declan Boyle and it gave Gunn the chance to fired in number six.

Ryan Hughes went close before the final goal came from another McGuinness header to complete a good day for Lochgelly and the result pushed the Berts up to seventh, only three points off third spot.

Berts boss, Andy Healy, was delighted with the performance: “The lads played really well and created some excellent chances.

"We defended solidly and ensured they had few chances and overall it was a good display.

“We need to keep it going and if we can keep stringing the wins together we can make a real impact on the table.”

Saturday’s fixtures, Lowland League, East Kilbride v Kelty Hearts (3pm). East of Scotland Premier League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Musselburgh Athletic (2.30), Camelon v Dundonald Bluebell (2pm), Penicuik Athletic v Crossgates Primrose (2.30).

East Super League, Pumpherston v Lochore Welfare (2pm), Lochgelly Albert v Syngenta FC (2pm).