THE East of Scotland League season opened for the five local sides, with excellent victories for Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Lochgelly Albert.
However, there were disappointing results for Dundonald Bluebell, Crossgates Primrose and Lochore Welfare.
Hill of Beath Hawthorn 3 Sauchie Juniors 2
AN excellent start to the East of Scotland Premier League programme by Hill of Beath Hawthorn who produced a quality performance to beat a side who have been bogey opponents for them in recent seasons.
The game saw a very even opening, with not a lot of good chances for either side, but two goals in three minutes before the break gave the home side the edge.
In 43 minutes a fine piece of opportunism by Lewis Elder saw him spot the Sauchie ‘keeper off his line and his 40-yard lob put the Haws ahead.
Then on the half-time whistle, from a corner, Jake Mitchell sent a powerful header into the net.
Sauchie came back at the hosts and on the hour they scored. But with 15 minutes left, Haws’ Jordan Tosh showed good finishing skills with an 18-yarder which restored Hill of Beath’s two goal advantage.
Sauchie are always hard-working opponents and with five minutes left they grabbed a second, but Haws saw out the game to open their campaign with a win.
Manager Allan Moody was delighted with the overall show from his team: "The lads gave a composed performance and stuck to the game plan well to earn this win.
"It is a great result, but it is only three points and we need to produce a lot more performances like that one in the coming weeks."
Dundonald Bluebell 0 Penicuik Athletic 2
PENICUIK ATHLETIC managed to grind out an East of Scotland Premier League win over a hard working Dundonald Bluebell side which had to play virtually all the game at Moorside with 10 men.
The home side were rocked inside two minutes when new signing, Tyler McKenzie, was red carded after putting in a late tackle.
It gave Penicuik a clear advantage but the Bluebell still had chances, with Barry Sibanda and Regan Lumsden both going close, forcing the visiting ‘keeper into good saves.
Athletic had the bulk of possession and, before half-time, they played a free-kick into the Dundonald box and a close range shot crept in.
The second period saw the 10 men continue to battle and, while Penicuik had more possession, they didn’t create many clear cut chances, and Lewis McKenzie came close to squaring the game.
However, in a swift breakaway, Athletic grabbed the key second goal to seal the points.
Bluebell boss, Jason Dair, was stunned by the opening to the game: "It was an unfortunate situation for young Tyler and basically we played the whole game with 10.
"We defended pretty solidly and did create a few good chances, but couldn’t get the goal which could have changed the game.
"We are still needing a couple of players and I hope to sort that out this week."
Newtongrange Star 4 Crossgates Primrose 1
CROSSGATES PRIMROSE found the Newtongrange Star in good form, in this East of Scotland First Division game, and the home side ran out convincing winners.
This was the away side's first game in the second tier of the East of Scotland structure, after their demotion from the Premier League in May, but they found the going hard against a side who expect to be challenging this season at the top end of the table.
Primrose carved out a few decent openings, but they trailed at the break, and Star added a second on the hour.
Although Scott Hynd almost immediately pulled one back, two goals in as many minutes took the game away from the visitors and sealed the points for Newtongrange.
It was a disappointing day for Crossgates, but the new look squad is settling in and they will be aiming for better results in the coming weeks.
Edinburgh South 4 Lochore Welfare 1
HAVING to play most of the game with 10 men was too much for Lochore Welfare to cope with in their opening East of Scotland First Division clash at Edinburgh South.
The Welfare hoped to make a solid start to the match, but in 10 minutes they were caught out with an opener.
Then, nine minutes later, they were two down, and on the half hour the home side grabbed a third. It only got worse from there after Michael Watt’s early red card.
Lochore started the second period solidly and in 67 minutes Calum Murray scored a well taken goal, following Joe Kirby’s free-kick, and they went in search of a second.
But South looked capable of grabbing another and that happened with 18 minutes to go, when a penalty gave the home side the chance to add to their tally.
Lochore boss James Adam said: ”We went into the game with a big injury list and losing Michael Watt early on was a major problem, which gave us a mountain to climb."
Lochgelly Albert 6 Fauldhouse United 2
LOCHGELLY ALBERT did not let going two down in the opening minutes of this East of Scotland Third Division game affect their belief they could win this fixture at Purvis Park.
Indeed, they were caught out inside 40 seconds, when United grabbed the lead, then 11 minutes later fell two goals down.
But the Berts came back strongly with a six goal salvo. In 23 minutes deadly striker Scott Russell halved the deficit with a tidy finish.
That was how the game stood at the break, but in the second period, it was all about the Albert.
In 51 minutes, Connor Murdoch’s shot took a deflection and found the net. Russell and Martin Woods came close to grabbing the lead for Lochgelly, and it was the former who managd it, heading home the crucial third goal.
Fauldhouse collapsed and Keiran Annandale’s cross was perfect for Murdoch to head in number four, before Calum Bennell produced an excellent piece of finishing for the fifth in 63 minutes.
A sixth goal from a trialist completed a good day for the hosts.
Berts committee man, Derek Patrick, was delighted with the overall performance: “We were slow to come out of the blocks but the lads completely dominated the second-half and scored some very good goals.
“Hopefully we can build on this in the coming weeks and maintain this level of finishing.”
Fixtures, Wednesday (tonight), East of Scotland Qualifying Cup first round, Lochgelly Albert v Dundonald Bluebell 7pm, Hutchie Vale v Lochore Welfare 7.45pm.
Saturday, East of Scotland Premier League, Sauchie Athletic v Dundonald Bluebell 2.30pm, Tynecastle v Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2.30pm. East of Scotland First Division, Crossgates Primrose v Leith Athletic 2.30pm, Lochore Welfare v Heriot Watt University 2.30pm. Alex Jack Cup first round, Peebles Rovers v Lochgelly Albert 2.30pm.
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