It’s Super Saturday

Kelty Hearts were too good for Musselburgh, Hill of Beath Hawthorn overcame the challenge of Lochee, while Dundonald Bluebell won at Broxburn; and in the South Division Lochgelly Albert and Crossgates Primrose were winners.

Kelty Hearts 3,

Musselburgh Athletic 1.

HEARTS made it three wins on the bounce to take over at the top of the McBookie.com East Super League on their own.

Musselburgh came to Central Park after having made a pretty good start to the campaign and set their stall out to deny the home side space in the middle of the park.

However, with Shaun Greig and Stephen Husband winning a lot of possession the Hearts created some early openings and Archie Campbell and Stuart Cargill both went close.

Burgh did not pose the Kelty rearguard too many problems and the opener came in 18 minutes when Husband was lying handy to blast home.

There could have been others for Hearts were moving the ball about much better than their opponents.

However, before the break the home fans were stunned when Burgh levelled the game.

The second period saw Kelty go looking to restore their advantage and again Musselburgh survived a couple of close calls before Brian Ritchie struck to put the hosts ahead in 65 minutes.

Burgh kept working away and were still in the game but their challenge ended when a fine finish from Husband, his second of the game with 83 gone made it 3-1 to put Kelty on nine points from their three outings.

Lochee United 1,

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 3.

HAWS had on loan Ryan Adamson between the sticks after Stuart Hall damaged ribs against Boness in midweek and he found himself in the early action.

After three minutes he was adjudged to have clipped a Lochee forward and the penalty was converted to put the then Super League leaders ahead.

It did not take Hill of Beath long to get back into things though and a long Lee Bryce throw reached Greg Smith and headed in the equaliser.

The visitors dominated possession and should have been ahead at half-time but after the shock start Haws were happy to turn around level.

The Keirs Parkers started the second period well and in 52 minutes went ahead when Dale Allan started the move which saw Bryce catch the ball on the byeline and his cut-back was swept over the line by Calum Adamson.

Lochee were happy to use long balls to their big strikers but the Hill of Beath defence dealt with things well and when Russell Grierson went over a lovely cross Lee Reid headed against the post but followed up to nod the ball home.

There were other chances for Haws but at the other end Lochee had the ball in the net but Ryan Adamson had been fouled and the ‘goal’ was chalked off.

Haws are sitting in second top spot with seven points and boss Bobby Wilson was delighted with the performance: “We got off to the worst possible start but the lads fought back immediately and we started to dominate possession.

“Lochee like to use the long ball to their big forwards but the defence handled that well and we were good winners.”

Broxburn Athletic 1,

Dundonald Bluebell 2.

BLUEBELL got another three point haul in the tank with this fine win in West Lothian.

The Moorsiders made a positive start to the game and went ahead in 15 minutes when Scott Lawrie was pulled down in the box and he got up to convert the spot-kick.

Broxburn were finding the Dundonald men a hot handful and struggled to bring James Lennox into the game and on the half hour Lawrie was in the perfect spot to increase the lead.

However, Athletic hit back six minutes later and it meant at the break the visitors were just a goal ahead.

The second-half saw Dundonald face the breeze but they still had some quality possession and Calum Young’s header brought out a great save from the ‘keeper and then Mark Forbes should really have scored from close in but just could not get his finish away after good work from Brodie Gray.

Lennox had to make a couple of good saves but at the other end Jordan Austin got into a good position but could not convert.

The defence held out well to take the Bluebell tally to six points from three games, which pleased boss Stevie Kay: “It was a tough challenge but I felt we handled their attacks well and created some excellent chances.

“It is a pleasing start but there are two important games at home this week and we will need the same level of performance to get the results we want.”

Lochgelly Albert 4,

Easthouses Lily 2.

THE Berts are sitting top of the South Division on goal difference after this emphatic win over Easthouses at Gardiner’s Park with striker John Ferguson the hero.

Lochgelly went at the visitors from the Lothians from the start and there were some close calls for them before Albert took the lead in 23 minutes when Ryan Robertson tucked the ball away.

Albert continued to press and the second came when Ferguson appeared at the back post to knock the ball home.

Two up at the break the Albert went all out to kill the game and the third came in 53 minutes when Ferguson got on the end of a cross to bullet the ball into the net.

Lily pulled one back but Albert were not to be denied and in 64 minutes Robertson drew the ‘keeper and squared to Ferguson who completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1.

The visitors did not give up though and grabbed a second with a few minutes remaining.

Lochgelly’s plus 11 goal difference puts them top of the pile.

Stoneyburn 1,

Crossgates Primrose 3.

THIS was a game which Primrose would have hoped to have picked up points from, and they attacked right from the whistle and put Stoneyburn under pressure.

The home ‘keeper made a couple of good saves but the visitors got their noses in front when Stephen Stark clipped the ball home.

That goal separated the sides at the interval but after the break Stoneyburn got a break and levelled the match.

However, Crossgates saw the chance to get a win on the board here and in 58 minutes Liam Forbes struck to put the visitors back in front.

Stoneyburn were not going to get a second chance to get back in the game as Primrose took complete charge and in 72 minutes Forbes struck again to give Crossgates their first three point haul of the campaign and a mid table slot.

Kirriemuir Thistle 10,

Lochore Welfare 1.

ANOTHER difficult day for the young Lochore side as they took on strong going Kirriemuir Thistle in Perthshire.

The Welfare line-up still needs a couple of experienced players to get the right balance and the seasoned Kirrie side were able to pick holes in the Lochore defence.

They grabbed an early goal and that set them up and running and the Lochore defence had plenty of work to do. However, Welfare got on the scoresheet through Kearyn Hicks to give their challenge a boost.

They battled hard and never gave up although the longer the game went the more Kirrie were able to exploit gaps.

Welfare were 5-1 down at the break and late goals took the final tally to ten.

This week’s fixtures: Tonight (Wednesday) McBookie.com East Super League, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Camelon, Dundonald Bluebell v Lochee United, Jeanfield Swifts v Kelty Hearts (all 6.45pm).

Saturday, McBookie.com East Super League, Dundonald Bluebell v Penicuik Athletic, Fauldhouse United v Kelty Hearts, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Newtongrange Star. McBookie.com South Division, Oakley United v Crossgates Primrose, Kirkcaldy YM v Lochgelly Albert. McBookie.com North Division, Lochore Welfare v Kinnoull (all games 2.30pm).