THE torrential rain of Friday saw the local non league card reduced to three games.

However, it was a fantastic day for Kelty Hearts and Crossgates Primrose, who hit nine goals between them in collecting six precious points on the road.

 

Berwick Rangers 0 Kelty Hearts 4

THREE points at Shielfield Park has given Kelty clear top spot in the Lowland League.

It was the strangest of games with the former League 2 side being reduced to nine men before the break.

Indeed, their first dismissal came in the very first minute after yan Finnie defender tripped Nathan Austin as he burst clear.

The wee Rangers were certainly going in hard in the soft conditions, but the Kelty striker again found space in 12 minutes, however, the Berwick ‘keeper saved well, then two minutes later Grant Anderson’s header was brilliantly saved by the home last line.

Hearts were making their numerical advantage work for them and in 24 minutes they took the lead.

Anderson knocked the ball on to Austin and he crisply fired the ball into the net.

Berwick were battling on gamely, but seldom bothered Scott Jamieson and on the half hour it was 2-0. Dylan Easton cut inside and fired a fine 25 yarder past the despairing dive of the keeper.

The English club put together a good move and Jamieson was on the alert to save a fierce shot, but a minute from the break the hosts were down to nine men after a second yellow card for Jack Wright.

Early in the second period Hearts got a third goal when some poor defending from Berwick opened the door for Austin to add another to his growing tally for the club.

Then in 58 minutes it was 4-0 when a cross was flashed across the wee Rangers box and the ball struck a defender and beat the ‘keeper for an unfortunate own goal.

There were other chances for Hearts but some good goalkeeping kept the margin at four. The result puts the reigning Lowland League champions a point clear at the top of the table, which pleased manager Barry Ferguson.

He said: “It was good to get all three points at a potentially difficult venue.

“It was a strange situation to see a man sent off in the first minute and that can create its own difficulties for you, but we handled it well and started to create good chances “It was good to see Nathan Austin and Dylan Easton getting among the goals.”

 

Broxburn 4 Crossgates Primrose 5

A FANTASTIC result for the Primrose at Albyn Park, who got their second East of Scotland Premier League win of the season as they came back from the dead to edge a nine-goal thriller.

It was a fine away victory against a team who have been seeking to put pressure on the leading sides.

And it was a good day for veteran striker Scott Lawrie, who scored a hat-trick in a game which saw Crossgates come back from being three goals down at the break.

There was not much happening in the opening stages of the game in terms of clear openings but Primrose were defending solidly, although in 28 minutes they were caught out by a good move and the hosts took the lead.

Two minutes later Broxburn struck again, then six minutes from the break Primrose found themselves three down.

However, three minutes into the second-half Crossgates were back in the game when Johnny Galloway fired home, but four minutes later it was 4-1.

It was then that the Primrose really took over and within two minutes Lawrie hit the first of his treble. Three minutes the striker hit his second and it was very much game on.

Crossgates were then awarded a penalty but the home ‘keeper saved.

The reprieve didn't last long and Broxburn nerves were jangling when a trialist levelled the match.

The Fife side completed an amazing comeback and grabbed the winner when they were awarded another penalty and this time Lawrie found the net to wrap up his hat-trick and the points.

The result moved Primrose on to 10 points, putting a bit of daylight between them and the bottom three sides.

 

Heriot Watt University 2 Lochore Welfare 0

RUSTY Welfare, out of action for three weeks due to the weather, were at Riccarton in the East of Scotland First Division Conference B, with four new players in their ranks.

Attacker Lee Celentano has rejoined the set-up, while also in the squad were ‘keeper Dale Wotherspoon and Craig Lowe, plus Liam McDuff.

Lochore started the game positively, their defensive structure was sound and they created some half chances at the other end. Lowe came close with a fine header before the break but the university side close twice forced Wotherspoon into good saves before the break.

Unfortunately Lochore started the second-half a bit sloppily and a slack pass gave the students the chance to grab the lead with a 20 yarder which gave Wotherspoon no chance.

Kellar Harris was making quite an impact on the game and he went close to levelling the match with a decent effort.

The longer the game went on a goal adrift, Lochore started to push more men forward looking for a leveller.

However, it also left gaps in the Welfare rearguard which the university fully exploited to grab the crucial second goal and the victory.

The result leaves Welfare second bottom of Conference B on three points, but manager James Adam was pleased the way his new recruits fared and said they had posed problems against a good Heriot Watt team.

He said: “I felt we competed really well against easily the best side we have played against this season.

“The unfortunate thing was that after a really good first-half performance, we started the second a bit carelessly and it let them get the key first goal.

"However, I am pleased to get these new lads aboard and they will help us build our points total.”

 

Saturday’s fixtures Lowland League, Kelty Hearts v Gretna 2008 3pm.

Scottish Cup second preliminary round, Hill of Beath Swifts v Whitehill Welfare 3pm, Dundonald Bluebell v Easthouses Lily 1.30pm.

East of Scotland Premier League, Crossgates Primrose v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 1.30pm.

EoS First Division Conference B, Luncarty v Lochgelly Albert 1.30pm, Lochore Welfare v Oakley United 1.30pm.