But bad day for junior clubs

Between them Lochore Welfare and Lochgelly Albert shipped 11 goals!

Gala Fairydean 1.

Kelty Hearts 2,

AN important win for Hearts in their bid to win the Lowland League but they needed to work really hard to collect the three points.

Kelty started the game well and created a couple of openings but Gala kept them out as Dylan Easton was looking lively.

Fairydean have really improved this season and they started to put together some good moves and hit the Hearts’ bar.

Then 12 minutes from the break the home side went ahead after a foul in the box saw the penalty converted.

On the interval Nathan Austin came close to levelling and five minutes into the second period they got the goal when the striker finished well.

It was all about Kelty now and just after the hour mark Stephen Husband put them ahead with a low shot which deceived the ‘keeper.

Gala were not finished though and Ben Mackenzie had to produce a couple of good saves to keep the lead intact but that he did and the result puts Kelty six points clear at the top of the table with two more games played than Bonnyrigg Rose.

Crossgates Primrose 0,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 3.

HAWS went into the last eight of the Football Nation Qualifying with this derby win at Humbug Park.

The Keirs Parkers won comfortably when the teams clashed in the East of Scotland Premier League recently and went ahead in 11 minutes.

Lyle Kellichan’s free-kick was perfect for Kevin Conners whose header, from all of 18 yards, beat ‘keeper Mooney.

Primrose tried to come back in to it but there was nothing they could do to get level as the Haws defence worked well, and they could just not break through.

Hill of Beath came close to a second when Lewis Elder missed a good chance before the break.

Primrose started the second period well and Haws’ ‘keeper Stuart Hall saved well at the feet of Scott Lawrie but in 65 minutes the visitors went two up.

Ricky Patrick’s pass sent Calum Adamson clean through and he coolly slipped the ball into the net.

Crossgates kept working away but clear chances for them were few and with five minutes left Haws grabbed the third.

Kellichan’s corner was met by Jake Mitchell on the line and it ended with both claiming the goal, but the simple fact was it made the score 3-0.

Haws manager John Mitchell was delighted with the way his team defended in this one: “We had to be very aware of the danger Primrose can carry but we worked hard as a team in front of Stuart Hall and it created the base for a very good win.

“It was pleasing to get a clean sheet and it is excellent to be in the last eight of what is a competition which has some big teams in it, it really gives us a lot to look forward to.

"However, first things first we have a big home game with second top Camelon this Saturday.”

Dunbar United 1,

Dundonald Bluebell 2.

THIS Football Nation tie was always going to be tight with Dunbar famed for being tough opponents on their own pitch.

But the ‘Bell worked really hard for this success and after a lot of poor defending from them in recent cup and league matches, their organisation at the back had more quality about in this one.

Dundonald opened the game well and took the lead in 20 minutes when Chris Gay’s corner was met by Craig Wedderburn and his header gave the ‘keeper no chance.

As both teams had spells dominating the midfield there were some half chances for both teams but neither ‘keeper was overworked and at the break Bluebell were one up.

The visitors started the second-half well and in 65 minutes stretched their lead.

Calum Smith intercepted a poor clearance and advanced towards the Dunbar box and neatly slipped the ball past the ‘keeper.

The visitors kept working hard and Dunbar struggled to create clear chances but with five minutes left a 25 yarder gave them hope.

However, the Bluebell defence did not capitulate this time and their defending was top notch as they saw the game out to make the quarter-finals.

‘Bell boss Kevin Fotheringham was very happy with the result: “We were needing a win after a bit of a barren run and this was a good performance.

“The defending was much more assured and overall it was so much better.”

Lochore Welfare 1,

Livingston United 6.

A BIG Super League defeat for the Welfare but the scoreline did not really reflect the way the game flowed.

The first 45 minutes saw Livi start the game well and they took the lead from the spot on the quarter of an hour mark when home ‘keeper Gary Inglis dived at a striker’s feet and the forward went down and a penalty was awarded.

Lochore responded and in 25 minutes they were back in it when Joe Dawson’s 25 yarder slipped through the United ‘keeper’s hands.

The Welfare were causing problems for the visitors and they came close to going ahead, but shortly before the break a corner was not dealt with well and a header put Livi in front.

Lochore started the second period well and Ben Rolland’s shot came back off the bar, and a couple of other shots went close but it was Livi who scored again.

Sub Aaron Wood went clean through and shot wide then Rolland’s shot came back off the inside of the United post but the ball stayed out.

With 15 to go Livi got a fourth from a free-kick and in the closing minutes added two more with breaks as Lochore kept trying to attack.

The result leaves the Crosshill side bottom of the table but manager James Adam was not downhearted: “There were a lot chances for us and had we had a bit more luck in front of goal we could have got into a good position early in the second-half.

“We did give away a couple of really bad goals and that meant that it took the pressure off Livingston and we are not really getting a lot of breaks just now. Hopefully that will change in the coming weeks as more players return to fitness.”

Lochgelly Albert 2,

Kirkcaldy and Dysart 5.

THE strong going visitors were just too sharp for the Berts in this South Division game a the hosts took on the fixture 11 players short.

Kirkcaldy made a strong start to the game and were two up inside 10 minutes but Lochgelly came back and in 12 minutes Sami Mitchell's pass set up Adam Haddow and he finished well.

James Gunn saw his fierce shot saved by the K and D 'keeper and in 28 minutes the Berts were level when Mitchell set up Trialist who slotted the ball past the 'keeper.

A minute from the break the visitors were awarded a penalty for a hand ball but Shaun Hunter saved the spot-kick and it was 2-2 at the interval.

However, Kirkcaldy got a second penalty two minutes into the second-half when Craig McGuinness's tackle was deemed an infringement and this was converted but on the hour Gunn came close to a leveller.

The next goal was going to be a key element in the game and it was K and D who got it with a 25 yarder which flew high into then net.

In the last minute a fifth goal tied things up for the visitors.

Berts boss Andy Healy is wondering when his injury nightmare is going to end: "The lads worked really hard but being so short of numbers meant that as the game went into the closing stages we started to run out of steam.

"Hopefully we will have at least four back for this week."

Fixtures, Friday, East of Scotland Premier League, Broxburn v Crossgates Primrose (7.45).

Saturday, Lowland League, Civil Service Strollers v Kelty Hearts (2pm). East of Scotland Premier League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Camelon (2.30), Penicuik Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell (2.30).

South Super League, Pumpherston v Lochore Welfare (2pm). South Division, Lochgelly Albert v Stoneyburn (2pm).