SATURDAY saw very good results for Kelty Hearts and Hill of Beath Hawthorn but these were the only wins from the local sides.

Dundonald Bluebell and Crossgates Primrose lost while Lochgelly Albert and had to settle for a draw and for the fifth successive week Lochore Welfare’s game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

East Kilbride 0,

Kelty Hearts 1.

ANOTHER very disciplined performance from Hearts as they kept their position at the top of the Lowland League.

EK have not been a sharp as previous seasons but still are a very useful side and showed that in the early stages and they defended well and looked capable of hurting Kelty moving forward.

Hearts had a couple of good half chances in the opening quarter of an hour but nothing came for them although in 36 minutes they took the lead.

A good move saw the opportunity for Nathan Austin appear and he produced a good finish.

Three minutes later things lot better for Hearts when a second yellow situation saw the hosts down to ten.

The second period saw Hearts see a lot of the ball but EK kept working hard and good chances were slow to appear for Kelty.

There were very few chances for East Kilbride though but Hearts wanted a safety goal.

However, the home side were solid at the back and the second would not come although the visiting defence was really sound ensuring the win which keeps them two points ahead of challengers Bonnyrigg Rose.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 3,

Musselburgh Athletic 0.

A VERY impressive home performance by the Haws which sees them share third top spot in the East of Scotland Premier League.

It saw Musselburgh well contained and the home side, with Stuart Hall back in action between the sticks, started to create chances from the early minutes.

Athletic were dangerous on the break but Haws took the lead in 20 minutes.

Lyle Kellichan created the danger from a well flighted corner and Daniel Watt’s well placed header did the needful.

Lee Reid saw the ‘Burgh ‘keeper pull off a fine save from his fierce shot and at the break the home side were a goal up.

Fifteen minutes into the second-half the second came when Kellichan went down the wing and fired over a lovely cross and Daniel Watt rose to head home.

‘Burgh were in trouble now and in 70 minutes the game was over. Regan Lumsden’s corner saw Jake Mitchell rise to power a header into the net.

There were other chances for the home side and the ‘Burgh goalkeeper defied Reid again with a fine save.

The result has Hill of Beath on 20 points from 10 games and in joint third top spot.

Manager, John Mitchell, was very pleased with the performance: “It was difficult game but we defended very solidly and it provided the base to build a good win on.

“We gave nothing away and the goals were well executed and it was also good to see Stuart Hall back in action after a long lay-off. To be third in the table a third of the way through the campaign is pleasing.

“The league goes into cold storage this weekend with South Challenge Cup action and it is a competition we want to do well in.”

Camelon 2,

Dundonald Bluebell 1.

THE goal action in this East of Scotland Premier League game came in the first-half.

The Falkirk side are sitting in the top two of the table so the ‘Bell knew this would be a tough test and they were under early pressure.

The visitors looked lively going forward and took the lead in 14 minutes when Chris Gay finished well.

Camelon were on the back foot but they regrouped and started to look for an equaliser and scored from the spot after a defensive mix-up led to the penalty being conceded.

This gave them momentum but ‘Bell did well to keep them out and there were a few chances for the visitors.

It looked like the game was going to be square at the interval but in time added on at the break Camelon grabbed the lead after some 'Bell slackness.

The second-half saw both teams attack strongly but Camelon worked hard to keep out the ‘Bell.

There were several good chances for Bluebell with Gay looking lively but they could just not get through.

The result leaves ‘Bell in sixth spot and manager Lee Dair felt they paid for a poor first-half show: “Over the 90 minutes I felt we deserved at least a draw but if you concede bad goals and miss good chances it is hard to win games.”

Penicuik Athletic 4,

Crossgates Primrose 1.

FOR the second successive week Primrose experienced a horrible second period in this East of Scotland Premier League.

Cuiky got an early grip of the midfield and the visitors had to defend well in the early stages.

That they did though and at the end of the first quarter the scoreline was still blank.

However, six minutes from the break Athletic grabbed the opener with a good finish but Crossgates immediately bounced back and a fine Scott Lawrie goal, from a 25 yard free-kick three minutes later, made the break score 1-1.

Penicuik started the second-half well and took the lead when a long ball opened up the Crossgates defence, to renew their momentum.

Primrose tried to get back into the game but were denied by a sound home defence and 14 minutes from time a poor piece of defending left Cuicky with the opportunity to grab number three.

A fourth five minutes from time was a little harsh on Primrose which leaves Crossgates on 10 points from 11 games.

Lochgelly Albert 1,

Syngenta FC 1.

A POINT for the Berts but they were looking to win this South Division game at Gardiner's Park.

The Albert were almost the more attacking unit and after they took the lead with a nice finish from Adam Haddow in 32 minutes the home fans were expecting them to build on that quickly but alas Syngenta hit back to square things in two minutes later.

Saturday’s fixtures, South Challenge Cup, Kelty Hearts v Stirling University (3pm), Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Cumbernauld Colts (2.30).

East of Scotland Premier League, Crossgates Primrose v Whitehill Welfare (2pm), Dundonald Bluebell v Newtongrange Star (2.30).

East Super League, Harthill Royal v Lochore Welfare (2pm). South Division, Newburgh v Lochgelly Albert (2pm).