East of Scotland League Cup: Hill of Beath and Crossgates out

However, there were fine league wins for Dundonald Bluebell and Lochgelly Albert, as they closed their league programmes.

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1, Sauchie Juniors 3, East of Scotland League Cup, quarter-final

THE Haws were left to rue a bad start to their East of Scotland League Cup quarter-final as Sauchie progressed to the last four.

A packed recent programme for Hill of Beath saw them go into the game without attackers Jordan Tosh and Dan Watt, and midfielder Brandon Luke, but it was some slackness in the first 10 minutes that saw the visitors score twice.

Brian Morgan and Jack Docherty found the net for Sauchie, but Alan Moody's team gradually came into the game, and pulled one back in the 25th minute thanks to a trademark Ross Allum volley that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

The hosts had other chances before the break, but trailed going into the second period, in which they had plenty of the ball, but good opportunities were few and far between for both teams.

The Haws saw their hopes of a semi-final place dashed by Sauchie. (Image: David Wardle.)

In the last 10 minutes, Danny Smith grabbed the killer third goal to clinch the tie for Sauchie, ending the Keirs Parkers' hopes of silverware, having clinched seventh spot in the East of Scotland League Premier Division with a 2-1 home win over Penicuik Athletic last midweek.

"We were unusually slack with our defending in the opening minutes, and while we came back into the match we found ourselves coming up short with our final pass in the last third of the pitch," Moody commented.

"Sauchie are a good side, and to give them the two goal advantage was always going to be tough to pull back, but the lads battled hard right to the end."

Haddington Athletic 4 Crossgates Primrose 0, East of Scotland League Cup, quarter-final

PRIMROSE worked hard at Haddington in their East of Scotland League Cup quarter-final but, after putting on a good first half performance, ran out of steam in the second as they bowed out.

Alan Campbell's side, who suffered relegation from the East of Scotland League Premier Division, had chances in the opening 45 minutes, but so did their opponents, who took one through Gabri Auriemma in the 14th minute.

The visitors' task was made tougher nine minutes after the break when Guy McGarry doubled Haddington's lead, before Seamus Russell added a third in the 58th minute.

Robbie Peffers added a fourth to seal Crossgates' fate at Millfield, bringing a tough campaign for the Humbug Park outfit to an end.

Dundonald Bluebell 4 Dunbar United 0, East of Scotland League, Premier Division

DUNDONALD BLUEBELL ended their season in fine style as they enjoyed a convincing victory over Dunbar United.

With a few injured players back, Stephen Husband had more firepower at his disposal, and his team posed their East Lothian visitors plenty of problems.

Barry Sibanda's header put the hosts ahead at the break before the 'Bell stretched their lead through Ross Drummond's good finish following a quickly-taken free-kick.

Drummond then added a third, following a corner-kick, and as Dunbar’s challenge faded, Josh Barbour added number four.

The result means that the Moorsiders finished ninth, with 43 points, and boss Husband commented: "We had a stronger unit for this one and we created some good chances and were well worth the margin of victory."

Lochore Welfare 2 St Andrews United 4, East of Scotland League, First Division

LOCHORE WELFARE faced their third game in a week and it took a late goal for promoted St Andrews United to seal all three points.

The home side were looking to follow up their good win over Preston Athletic with another, but faced a tough task against a side that pushed champions Dunipace all the way in the title race.

Welfare started well, hitting the woodwork twice in the early stages, but Lewis Sawers' took one of the openings created by the visitors for the only goal of the first half.

Almost immediately after the restart, Lochore levelled when Calum Murray's pass set up Joe Kirby, who finished well.

They then pressed for a second but were caught out by a long ball as Sawers evaded the offside trap to slot in his and St Andrews' second of the afternoon.

Euan Russell added a third goal for United but Welfare came back, with Kirby striking again to make it 3-2, but, as they pressed for an equaliser, James Hennessy broke away in stoppage time to score a fourth for St Andrews.

With one game to play, at Vale of Leithen last night (Tuesday), Lochore have 29 points, 16 clear of the relegation zone, but boss James Adam said: "The game was a snapshot of our season really, we played some good stuff, had a lot of chances, but failed to score at key times and conceded a couple of avoidable goals."

Hawick Royal Albert 0 Lochgelly Albert 2, East of Scotland League, Third Division

LOCHGELLY ALBERT continued their good end to the season by enjoying a winning trip to Hawick Royal Albert.

Three of their under-20s were in the squad for the match in the Borders, making a positive impact alongside top scorer, Scott Russell, whose fine finish over the goalkeeper put the visitors ahead early on.

Lochgelly created other good openings but went into the break just one goal up, and continued to have chances in the second half.

Scott Russell netted twice for Lochgelly at the weekend. (Image: David Wardle.)

With 13 minutes to go, Ryan Shepherd was red-carded for Hawick, but three minutes later, the away side were also reduced to 10 men when Jens Moret was sent off for his reaction to having the ball thrown at him by an opponent.

The Berts, though, did add a second goal in the final minute when Russell converted a penalty given for handball, leaving them with 45 points from their 30 matches.

Derek Patrick, one of the club's committee members, said: "The team built on the midweek win over Edinburgh Community with another strong showing, on a lovely sunny day in the Borders.

“We maybe should have scored more, but the result made it 11 wins from the last 15 games which is pleasing for everyone connected with the club."