THE area’s big two collected good wins on Saturday but there were defeats for Dundonald Bluebell and Crossgates Primrose.

And in the only junior fixture Lochore Welfare were well beaten at Whitburn.

Dalbeattie Star 0.

Kelty Hearts 4.

HEARTS got the win they wanted in the Borders to stay six ahead of Bonnyrigg Rose in the Lowland League.

Star have had a difficult season and are lying second bottom but they opened the game proving good defensively and Kelty, with new signing from Falkirk, Michael Tidser, in their team, were eager to get in front.

However, Dalbeattie worked hard and clear openings were limited for the Maroons.

The visitors were finding the strong wind hard to contend with but they found the net with a good finish from Ross Philp to lead at the break.

Star were not for giving up though but Kelty got the key second goal early in the second period through Nathan Austin’s trademark finish.

Star were starting to struggle in the difficult conditions and really did not test Ben Mackenzie and with Tidser’s promptings, Hearts continued to create chances and Dylan Easton made it 3-0 to seal the win.

The fourth goal came late on from Austin to take Hearts onto 61 points.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2,

Whitehill Welfare 0.

WITH the gale sweeping down Keirs Park it was very difficult for both teams in this East of Scotland Premier League game, but Haws were desperate to win to keep the pressure on leaders Boness United (see Ted Milton's pictures from Keirs Park).

Welfare, who beat Boness only three weeks ago, had the wind in the first period and tried to cause Hill of Beath trouble, but Calum Adamson twice saw the Whitehill ‘keeper defy him.

However, the home defence worked hard and Stuart Hall was not too busy and in 43 minutes the hosts had the chance to go ahead when Russell Grierson was pulled down in the Whitehill box.

Up stepped Adamson and his shot was blocked by the 'keeper, then he followed up to blast over the bar.

With the elements behind them in the second period Haws grabbed the lead in the 50th minute when a long Ricky Patrick throw was chested down by Daniel Watt who then fired the ball wide of the ‘keeper.

On the hour it was 2-0 when Joe Kinninmonth made a good run down the left and sent over a lovely cross, and in the ensuing scramble, Watt shot home from close in.

There were other chances for the home side but Whitehill defended resolutely and Haws had to settle for the two goal win which keeps them in second place, 10 points behind Boness and three games in hand.

Haws boss John Mitchell was delighted with overall performance from his side: “We had to defend really well in the first period and the work of the team ensured that Whitehill’s chances were limited.

“The second-half saw us go forward strongly and we got the goals and there were other chances but on a difficult day for football it was a very good performance.”

Boness United 1,

Dundonald Bluebell 0.

BLUEBELL made it very difficult for the East of Scotland Premier League side leaders Boness at windswept Newtown Park.

The horrible conditions made it hard for either side to create a lot of good chances.

The ‘Bell saw few clear openings in the early stages but they limited United to very few chances.

However, in 20 minutes a bit of slackness from the visitors saw Boness take the lead. The ball was carelessly given away on the edge of the visitors’ box and the ball was switched wide and a well pin-pointed cross was headed into the net.

Bluebell kept working hard and got to the break just the one down and on the hour Craig Wedderburn fired a shot just over.

Boness kept looking for a second goal but they found the ‘Bell defensive work was sound and there were few chances for United.

However, late on a penalty decision by the referee, when the ball was fired against Billy Rogerson’s arm, gave United a spot-kick which was saved by Dundonald ‘keeper James Lennox.

The defeat ended a five game unbeaten run for the ‘Bell but manager Kevin Fotheringham was not downhearted: “The conditions were as bad as I have seen but the lads worked really hard and were punished for that error when we gave the ball away on the edge of our box.

“We found it hard to create many chances against a team which is really well drilled, but we kept looking to get back into the game although over the 90 minutes Boness deserved to win.”

Musselburgh Athletic 3,

Crossgates Primrose 0.

THIS was always going to a tough East of Scotland Premier League assignment for Primrose but losing an early goal posed problems for the visitors.

The strong wind made it difficult for the teams but Athletic settled better and they grabbed the lead in 10 minutes when the home side took advantage of a chance as the Primrose defence was caught out.

This settled Musselburgh and they started to find openings in the Crossgates cover and in 23 minutes they grabbed a second.

Scott Lawrie and Archie Campbell were struggling to find many good openings for them and at the break Primrose were two down.

Primrose started the second period looking for the goal which would open up the game, but they found the home defence looking solid and for a spell neither side created many chances.

Crossgates had a couple of half chances but could not get the goal they craved and in 74 minutes Musselburgh got a third to tie up the points.

Whitburn 5,

Lochore Welfare 1.

THE Welfare’s second-half collapse saw them finish well beaten at Whitburn, a result that leaves them stuck in bottom spot in the South Super League.

Lochore started the game quite enterprisingly and created a couple of chances without being able to convert them.

Whitburn were making decent openings and they grabbed one to lead by a single goal at the break.

Lochore could have scored in the first period and had high hopes of getting back into the game, but losing an early goal in the second-half saw Whitburn on the way to victory.

Two more goals saw Whitburn firmly in charge, but credit to Lochore when Nathan Harley fired home a well taken goal with 15 minutes left.

They went looking for another and created a couple of half chances but a fifth for Whitburn sealed a good win for them.

The result leaves Lochore on eight points from 15 games, five behind Kennoway with three games in hand, and six behind Harthill Royal with two games in hand.

Welfare boss James Adam was very disappointed with the way his team collapsed after the break: “We possibly were a bit unlucky to be behind at the interval.

“But we really fell completely out of the picture after the interval and just could not make an impact.”

This Saturday’s games, Lowland League, The Spartans v Kelty Hearts (3pm).

East of Scotland League Premier Division, Musselburgh Athletic v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (2.30), Dundonald Bluebell v Camelon (2.30), Whitehill Welfare v Crossgates Primrose (2.30).

South Super League, Lochore Welfare v Harthill Royal (2.30), Lochgelly Albert v Sauchie (2.30).