SATURDAY was a good day for Kelty Hearts who are back on top of the Lowland League while Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell also won to strengthen their positions in the East of Scotland Premier League.

However Crossgates Primrose and Lochgelly Albert lost out while Lochore's match was called off.

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1 Kelty Hearts 2

THIS hard fought win for Hearts in the Borders underlined how difficult the Lowland League will be to win this season.

But the three points, allied to results elsewhere, took Kelty back to joint top of the table with BSC Glasgow. Skipper Michael Tidser had to call-off just before kick-off and with Jamie Stevenson subbed inside six minutes, it didn't look like Kelty's day.

But they overcame these set-backs and took the lead in 11 minutes when Dougie Hill headed home a Dylan Easton free-kick. But a few minutes later the home team were level. A fierce shot was brilliantly finger tipped away for a corner by Darren Jamieson, but from the set piece the ball was turned into the net from close in.

A powerful Gala shot just cleared the bar but Kelty came back and re-took the lead in 37 minutes. Easton showed a lot of coolness to turn his marker and tuck the ball past the ‘keeper.

Jamieson had to be on the alert early in the second-half as he saved twice as the Borders side looked dangerous. Gala went close again but Jamieson saved well and at the other end a Kallum Higginbotham effort whistled just wide.

In the closing stages the Kelty rearguard were called on but they managed to ensure they headed home with three vital points.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2 Whitehill Welfare 0

THIS East of Scotland Premier League game was supposed to be in the Lothians, but some pitch restoration work went wrong for the Welfare and the damage meant that the surface was unplayable, so the fixture was switched to Keirs Park.

Haws started well and both Ryan Connelly and Joe Kinninmonth went close before the breakthrough came on the half hour when Lyle Kellichan’s corner was perfect for Connelly to head home.

There were other chances for Hill of Beath but the visiting ‘keeper produced some excellent stops and 10 minutes after the break the second goal came.

Brandon Luke fed Kinninmonth and the striker showed a cool touch to fire into the net.

Haws kept creating chances but the Welfare goalkeeper was having an inspired day and made some fantastic saves. Rab McFarlane, at the other end, was seldom bothered and it was three good points for the home side which takes them to eighth in the table.

Home boss John Mitchell said: “It was an all round good performance with a lot of chances created. The defensive work was excellent as was the discipline and that is something which must continue, for there is a string of important games coming up.”

Blackburn United 1 Dundonald Bluebell 2

ANOTHER fine East of Scotland Premier League show from the ‘Bell who are now in sixth spot in the table with three games in hand over leaders Tranent.

Dundonald found United well organised but started to create openings with Barry Sibanda involved in the opening goal.

A long throw was nodded on by Sibanda and Calum Strang’s strong header beat the Blackburn ‘keeper.

A goal up at the break the Moorsiders were defied by strong defending. The hosts were back in the match when visiting ‘keeper James Lennox came out of his box to clear but fell and hurt his knee.

The ball was switched into the middle where it was steered into the empty net. Without a sub keeper, Lennox bravely opted to play on and produced a couple of good saves on one leg, but things got worse when midfielder Lewis McKenzie picked up a second yellow and was sent off.

In the closing minutes Sibanda turned creator once more and found sub Keiran Dall, with the youngster finishing superbly for the winner.

Boss Kevin Fotheringham said: “I felt Blackburn played a very disciplined game and there were not a lot of chances for either side. When Lewis was sent off, after James' injury, I feared the worst but the lads dug in and it was a fine piece of finishing by young Dall which earned the win.”

Crossgates Primrose 1 Camelon 4

MID TABLE Camelon just carried too much firepower for Primrose in this East of Scotland Premier League game at Humbug Park.

Crossgates had a few more regulars back for this game and they made a reasonable start, keeping tabs on the Falkirk side’s front line and at the same time having a couple of half chances.

However, in 22 minutes Camelon took the lead and a second goal seven minutes later left Crossgates struggling. They got to the break two down, then three minutes after the break they were back in it after a foul in the Camelon box. Scott Lawrie converted the penalty.

However, the visitors grabbed a third to give them a breathing space then in 67 minutes Gary Leighton received a red card and that ended home hopes.

Camelon netted again in the 87th minute to get their fourth goal. The result leaves Primrose in 15th place in the table.

Kinnoull 5 Lochgelly Albert 1

KINNOULL have been scoring goals for fun in the East of Scotland First Division Conference B but the Berts took the lead in this one and held it for a considerable part of the first-half.

Although the Perthshire men had a lot of early possession it was Lochgelly who scored in 22 minutes when Sammi Mitchell cut inside and fired the ball into the net.

The home side came back to square the game, then there was a midfield incident on the half hour when a punch appeared to be aimed at the Bert’s Craig McGuinness, but the referee didn’t see it.

A second came just before the break when Berts’ ‘keeper Shaun Hunter made a fine block but the rebound was fired home. Two minutes after the break came the key third goal after a long ball undid the Berts’defence.

Kinnoull were motoring now and in 65 minutes they added a fourth and number five came late on, the result leaving Lochgelly in 12th spot on five points.

Albert secretary Ian Patrick had no complaints: “We made a good start but they started to create a lot of chances and once they went ahead we were in trouble. We have players coming back from injury so things hopefully should get better in the coming weeks.”

Saturday’s fixtures: Lowland League, Berwick Rangers v Kelty Hearts 3pm. East of Scotland Premier League, Dundonald Bluebell v Musselburgh Athletic 1.30pm, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Penicuik Athletic 2.30pm, Broxburn v Crossgates Primrose 2.30pm. EoS First Division Conference B, Lochgelly Albert v Eyemouth United 1.30pm, Heriot Watt University v Lochore Welfare 3pm.