There was a right mix of results in Saturday's East of Scotland programme, which went ahead in its entirety despite the horrible weather conditions caused by Storm Amy at the weekend.
Premier League sides Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Dundonald Bluebell, along with First Division unit Crossgates Primrose, enjoyed good wins, while Lochore Welfare, Lochgelly Albert, and Cowdenbeath Central faced defeats.
Haddington Athletic 0 - 1 Hill of Beath Hawthorn
A last-minute goal secured a vital three points for Hill of Beath Hawthorn as they continue their pursuit of the East of Scotland Premier League title.
Haddington Athletic has been performing well this season, sitting just behind Haws in the top five of the table.
In challenging windy conditions, the visitors had moments where they tested the Haws defence, hitting the post and forcing excellent saves from goalkeeper Blair Penman in the first half.
At the other end, Hill of Beath saw John Smith, Dan Watt, and Brandon Luke come close to scoring.
The first half ended goalless, and after the break, Haddington had the wind advantage.
However, Hill of Beath responded well, with Watt and Jonny Galloway both coming close before Jordan Tosh nearly broke the deadlock.
As the match approached its conclusion, the result hung in the balance.
In the dying moments, following a corner, Jake Mitchell and Ross Allum created problems for Haddington, allowing Smith to fire in what proved to be the winning goal.
This result leaves Haws just one point behind leaders Jeanfield Swifts with a game in hand.
Manager Robbie Raeside expressed his satisfaction with the performance: "It was a really positive 90 minute performance against a very good side.
"The conditions were awkward with a very strong wind, but we played well both with it and against it and to get a shut-out in the circumstances was very pleasing."
Dundonald Bluebell 2 - 1 Hutchie Vale
Dundonald Bluebell secured a solid win but had to work hard for the three points against bottom-placed Hutchie Vale.
The Bluebell got off to a flying start at Moorside, scoring in the first minute when Ross Drummond unleashed a fierce volley past the Vale goalkeeper after good build-up play.
With the wind at their backs, Dundonald dominated possession, but it wasn't until the half-hour mark that they doubled their lead.
Drummond turned creator this time, delivering a cross that Jack Wilson converted with a powerful shot.
Just before half time, Hutchie Vale was awarded a penalty after an incident in the Bluebell box, which they converted to make the score 2-1 at the break.
In the second half, Hutchie struggled to capitalize on the wind advantage, and chances were limited for both sides.
However, Bluebell defended resolutely to secure the win, which keeps them in the middle of the table with 14 points from ten games.
Manager Jason Dair was pleased with the outcome: "The wind was very difficult for us and Hutchie but both teams battled hard to create chances.
"In the second-half we had to defend solidly to ensure we kept our advantage and it was a good result which sees us moving towards the top half of the table."
Whitehill Welfare 1 - 0 Lochore Welfare
Lochore Welfare faced a disappointing result in this East of Scotland First Division match, despite being competitive throughout.
The gusty wind made play challenging for both teams, and Lochore had to defend diligently in the first half.
Although Whitehill had more possession, they failed to create significant threats, and at halftime, the score remained 0-0.
After the break, Whitehill looked to attack aggressively but capitalized on a defensive lapse from Lochore to take the lead.
Despite Lochore's constant pressure, they struggled to find the back of the net, with Scott Small coming close but denied by a fine save from the Whitehill goalkeeper.
Ultimately, Whitehill held on for an unexpected victory, leaving Lochore with 16 points in seventh place.
Manager James Adam expressed his frustration: "I hoped to have Joe in the team but the registration system wouldn't clear him for the game but we should still have not left Whitehill with nothing to show for our efforts.
"The wind made things difficult for both teams but having defended well against the elements in the first-half we just did not create enough good chances in the second, which was very frustrating despite a lot of huffing and puffing."
Crossgates Primrose 5 - 2 Luncarty
Crossgates Primrose secured three crucial points in this battle of the bottom two in the East of Scotland League First Division, with striker Scott Hynd enjoying a remarkable day by scoring four goals.
The Primrose started strong against Luncarty, with Hynd netting his first just four minutes into the match.
He quickly added a second ten minutes later as the Luncarty defense struggled to cope.
Hynd completed his hat-trick in the 23rd minute, and although Luncarty managed to find the net twice, a fourth goal from Hynd put the home side firmly in control at halftime.
The second half was less frenetic, but both teams had opportunities.
In the 78th minute, Mark Ramsay sealed the victory for Primrose with a goal, bringing their total to seven points from nine games and moving them closer to safety.
Harthill Royal 3 - 1 Lochgelly Albert
In this East of Scotland Second Division encounter, Harthill Royal managed to edge out a victory, though they were fortunate to come away with the win.
Lochgelly Albert created some decent chances early on, but a defensive error allowed Harthill to open the scoring in the ninth minute.
Albert responded well, with Scott Russell and Jens Moret both coming close to equalizing.
Lochgelly started the second half brightly, and Russell nearly found the net before Keiran Boundy equalized with a well-taken finish.
However, a tight offside decision denied Boundy a second goal, and soon after, Harthill regained the lead.
Despite Lochgelly's attempts to get back into the game, including a shot from Michael Fleming that hit the crossbar, Harthill held on and secured the win with a late breakaway goal.
Both teams now sit tied on 13 points in seventh place, and Albert committee member Derek Patrick noted, "There was nothing really between the sides but Harthill have a lot of experienced players and that extra streetwise aspect proved key in getting them out of several very tight situations."
Pumpherston 2 - 1 Cowdenbeath Central
In a tightly contested East of Scotland Third Division match, Cowdenbeath Central was somewhat unlucky not to secure a point.
The first half saw both defenses hold firm, with chances for both sides but neither able to find the net.
The second half remained competitive, and Pumpherston eventually broke the deadlock with a sharp finish.
Central quickly responded, equalizing through a goal from Connor Spence.
With the match finely balanced, it was Pumpherston who found the winner in the closing stages, allowing them to leapfrog Central in the middle of the table.
Looking ahead, fixtures include the Fife Cup quarter-final where Hill of Beath Hawthorn will face St Andrews United, and in the East of Scotland First Division, Lochore Welfare will take on Armadale Thistle.
Additionally, in the East of Scotland Third Division, Ormiston Primrose will face Cowdenbeath Central, while in the South Challenge Cup third round, Vale of Clyde will meet Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Lochgelly Albert will take on Dundonald Bluebell.
The East of Scotland Qualifying Cup third round will see Crossgates Primrose face Harthill Royal.
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