Victories for Hill of Beath, Dundonald and Lochgelly

But it was another difficult day for Crossgates Primrose, who were well beaten by Hutchie Vale.

Musselburgh Athletic 1, Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1.

A SOLID away performance against fourth top of the Premier League made it nine games unbeaten for Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Haws opened the game well, creating a few early chances, and in 17 minutes took the lead when midfielder Brandon Luke fired an 18-yard volley into the top corner.

There were a lot of good moves from both sides but the defensive work of both teams was good and at the break the visitors were worthy leaders.

The second period saw Athletic start well and create a few decent chances, but good work by the Haws ensured they kept their lead until the 70th minute when Musselburgh levelled things.

After that the home side looked very lively in their build up play and they twice hit the woodwork, but Hill of Beath kept working work and ensured that they left Olive Bank with a point to take them  on to 34 points from 21 games and they hold seventh spot.

Manager Alan Moody was a little disappointed not to get the win, but was fully aware of the quality of the opposition: “Musselburgh have only lost two games all season, so this was always going to be a tough game, but we were very solid in the first-half and were worthy of the half-time lead, but Burgh came back at us strongly in the second period.

“We had to work hard in the closing stages, but this the lads did and on reflection it was another very good result.”

Dundonald Bluebell 5, Kinnoull 0.

THIS Premiership game only got the go-ahead mid-morning with Moorside suffering under the wet weather of the end of the week, but Dundonald ensured another three-point haul.

Bottom of the table Kinnoull struggled to contain the home side and once the ‘Bell took the lead, after Lewis McKenzie latched on to a Luke Kennedy pass, and fired the ball into the net, the visitors were struggling.

The second came when Ross Drummond and Kennedy linked up with Jordan Orru, and the defender fired a fine shot past the ‘keeper.

Before they break the put the game out of sight, when Kennedy was fouled in the box and McKenzie slotted home the resultant penalty kick.

The second period saw Kinnoull keep battling, but they struggled to put pressure on Dundonald and the fourth goal came when Drummond created the chance for new signing, Calum Strang, to make it 4-0, then Finn Graham’s 20 yarder took the home tally to five.

The result sees Bluebell on 29 points, from 17 games, and with fixtures in hand they are well placed to challenge for a top five finish and manager, Stephen Husband, said: “Conditions weren’t easy with the pitch very soft but we played some really good stuff and created a lot of chances.

“We are keeping pressure on the sides above us in the table, and we hope to finish the season with a strong challenge.”

Crossgates Primrose 1, Hutchie Vale 4.

PRIMROSE found Hutchie just too strong for them, at Humbug Park, and the result leaves them struggling to shake off the bottom sides in the East of Scotland Premier League.

Indeed, the heavy loss to the Edinburgh side sees them in the danger zone and needing wins.

The first period was pretty even for the most part, with Hutchie grabbing an early lead, but Primrose kept at them and pulled one back through a good Cammy Muirhead finish.

They could have got another, but Hutchie Vale were dangerous going forward and led 2-1 at the break.

In the second period the visitors were the much stronger side and when they went 3-1 up the game start to slip away from Primrose.

A fourth goal late on gave them the result which keeps them second top of the table and leaves Primrose on 13 points, from 17 games, and two adrift of fourth bottom Glenrothes.

Lochgelly Albert 2, Fauldhouse United 1.

THE Berts extended their unbeaten run in the East of Scotland Third Division to seven games, with this win over Fauldhouse at Purvis Park.

After beating the two leading sides in the division in back-to-back games, Lochgelly made a good start to this one in 12 minutes.

A searching ball into the Fauldhouse box was gathered by Scott Russell and the marksman made a superb finish, to add to his growing tally of goals.

Soon after the striker latched on to a through ball and went one-on-one with the ‘keeper, but the Fauldhouse last line made a fine save, then Fauldhouse hit the Albert bar with a fine shot.

Lochgelly turned around a goal up and started the second period well, then in 58 minutes they went two up.

Russell became provider this time, with a run down the right, and his perfect cross was fired home by Martin Woods.

United never gave up and created a few decent openings, but the Berts defended solidly, then in the closing moments the home side’s Scout Houston was dismissed for a second yellow, and then United pulled one back with a well-executed free-kick, but the hosts held on for another win, which puts them on 26 points from 21 games and puts them in sixth spot.

Albert committee man, Derek Patrick, commented: “It was not such a good performance from us, but we still created some clear-cut chances and deserved to win.

“It extended the unbeaten run to seven and sets us up for our home League Cup tie with Premiership Musselburgh, this Saturday, which will be a huge test for our young side.”

Weekend fixtures, Friday, East of Scotland League Cup, Burntisland Shipyard v Crossgates Primrose 7.30pm. Saturday’s fixtures, East of Scotland League Cup, Sauchie Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell 2.30pm, Hill of Beath Hawthorn v West Calder United 2.30pm, Lochore Welfare v Dalkeith Thistle 2.30pm, Lochgelly Albert v Musselburgh Athletic 2.30pm.