Hill of Beath Hawthorn lose but Dundonald and Lochgelly win

Dundonald Bluebell got their first Premier Division win, by sweeping aside Tynecastle, while Lochgelly Albert hit six at Livingston to go top of the Third Division.

Dundonald Bluebell 5 Tynecastle 1

With a full squad available, the ‘Bell hit form when Tynecastle came to Moorside on Premier League business.

From the outset, Dundonald were in charge and in 15 minutes they took the lead when Regan Lumsden slotted home.

Within five minutes, however, Tynecastle hit back after a long ball was not dealt with by the home defence in the blustery conditions.

The Bluebell were soon back on the attack and on loan attacker from Alloa Athletic, Joe Cunningham, gathered a clearance and finished expertly.

Then, just before the break, the third came when Ross Drummond created the chance after good work down the left, and his cross was perfect for Cunningham to send the ball past the Tynecastle ‘keeper.

Dundonald were in charge, dominating possession in the second period, and the fourth came in 65 minutes with a fine finish from Lewis McKenzie.

Bluebell went nap when Corey Battrick fired in a shot which went in off the back post, to give the home side the win which takes them on to four points, in ninth spot.

Manager Jason Dair was delighted with his team’s performance: "It was good to get a number of the lads who have missed the start of the campaign back, and we posed Tynecastle a lot of problems.

"We need to get a run going, but we have cup action this week with a home Challenge Cup tie against Troon, and it is a competition we want to do well in."

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1 Penicuik Athletic 4

Allan Moody's final match in charge of the Haws ended in defeat against Penicuik Athletic on Saturday.

The club announced that he had stepped down from the role due to personal commitments 24 hours after the match with their Midlothian visitors, who took the points home to the other side of the Forth.

Allan Moody's final game in charge of the Haws ended in defeat. (Image: David Wardle.)

After their midweek match at St Andrews United was abandoned due to a serious injury to a home player with them 3-1 up, Haws wanted to continue their good start to the Premier League season but, after a bright opening, it went awry at Keirs Park.

Hill of Beath dominated the early stages and went ahead in 25 minutes with a well taken goal from Dan Watt.

However, five minutes later, a mix-up in the home defence let Cuicky in to level the game and then, five minutes from the break, more poor defending let Penicuik in to lead at the interval.

Haws started the second period looking for an equaliser but they did not create many good chances, and in 75 minutes, another bad defensive error let the visitors in to lead 3-1.

Athletic grabbed a late fourth to complete a bad day for Hill of Beath.

The Haws were beaten by Penicuik Athletic at Keirs Park. (Image: David Wardle.)

Moody said: "In our early wins our defending has been our strong point but it certainly wasn’t against Penicuik.

"Three of the goals were gifted by us after a good first half hour, and certainly we did not play to our potential in the last hour of the game, but credit to Penicuik they grabbed the opportunity to win the game convincingly."

Heriot-Watt University 1 Crossgates Primrose 1

This was a decent East of Scotland First Division point for Primrose against the lively students.

Heriot-Watt are currently in the top five of the second tier and the early stages of this match, at the impressive Oriam Sports Centre, was very tight.

Defences were dominating while Primrose ‘keeper Matty Rollo had some cracking saves, especially in the first-half.

There were openings for both sides, then a minute into the second period Crossgates grabbed the lead through a fine finish from Cammy Bell.

The visitors looked for a second goal but were denied by some good home defending and the students looked for an equaliser and grabbed it.

Both teams searched for a winner but a point apiece was a fair result.

Primrose boss, Alan Campbell, said: "There were mixed emotions after the game.

"I was pleased with the performance and content with the result."

Newtongrange Star 2 Lochore Welfare 1

The woodwork robbed the Welfare of a point against top of the table Newtongrange at New Victoria Park.

Star struck in only five minutes, after Lochore gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the park, and it saw them settle in to dominating possession.

The Welfare came close with a fine Gregg Page shot bringing out a good save from the home ‘keeper, but at the break the Nitten were worth their lead.

Lochore tried again after the interval and when Matty Christie was hauled down in the Star box, Scott Small converted the spot-kick.

It was the visitors' turn to dominate, with Christie posing the hosts real problems, and one good run saw him provide Joe Kirby with a great chance, but the front man fired over.

However, Lochore conceded a bad second goal, when a corner was not properly dealt with and Star re-took the lead.

After that Page, Reilly and Donaldson all came close to an equaliser for Welfare. And in the dying seconds Ethan Anderson’s shot came back off the underside of the bar, but the ball stayed out.

The result leaves Lochore joint bottom of the table on one point, but manager James Adam saw plenty to give him hope for the future.

He said: "The second goal was a bad one to lose, but in the closing stages we created a lot of chances and Ethan Anderson was very unlucky with his shot that hit the bar."

Livingston United 1 Lochgelly Albert 6

The Berts made it three wins from three games in the East of Scotland League Third Division and they lead the table on goal difference from Linton Hotspur.

Lochgelly took the lead in just 20 seconds, with Scott Russell hitting the net after a penetrating visiting raid.

The much improved home side settled, and there were few clear chances for the Berts until the 41st minute, when Calum Bennell cut inside and fired a fine shot past the ‘keeper to make it 2-0 at half-time.

Lochgelly started the second period well, and in 57 minutes got a third goal when a 25-yard Declan Boyle free-kick beat the ‘keeper, and then six minutes later, Russell added number four from close-in.

As Livi struggled to contain the visitors, the fifth came from Dylan Geddes, following a corner, but credit to United as they pulled one back from the spot.

The Berts finished the game strongly and Rhuaridh Garvie got the final touch, after a good Albert move, to bring the final tally to six.

Albert committee man, Derek Patrick, was pleased with the performance: "We were really strong in the second half and scored some good goals.

"We are at home to Newburgh on Wednesday and it would be good to keep this excellent start going."

Tonight's (Wednesday) fixture: East of Scotland League, Third Division: Lochgelly Albert v Newburgh (7pm).

Saturday's fixtures: East of Scotland League First Division: Crossgates Primrose v Preston Athletic (2.30pm). South Challenge Cup first round: Blantyre Vics v Lochgelly Albert (2.30pm), Dundonald Bluebell v Troon (2.30pm). East of Scotland Qualifying Cup second round: Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Newtongrange Star (2.30pm).