Hill of Beath Hawthorn claim win over Musselburgh Athletic

HILL OF BEATH HAWTHORN illustrated their potential to be challenging for prizes after humbling East of Scotland Premier Division leaders Musselburgh Athletic.

Robbie Raeside's team had the early edge over their opponents and, midway through the opening period, went in front when Brodie Gray's fine diagonal ball set up Ross Allum, who gave the goalkeeper no chance with a good finish.

Dan Watt and Jordan Tosh both came close to adding to the home side's tally, as the East Lothian visitors struggled to create chances, but they were awarded a penalty early in the second half.

Calum Runciman's mis-timed tackle gave Musselburgh the chance to equalise, but Blair Penman produced a fine fingertip save onto the post, before grabbing the rebound, from the spot-kick.

The Haws are just five points behind their table-topping opponents having played two games fewer. (Image: David Wardle.)

That gave the Haws a lift and, soon after, they doubled their lead when Dan Baur's pass to Allum saw them create a good opening for Tosh, who chested the ball down before firing home.

They had further opportunities to add to their lead, with Tosh in particular coming close after being set up by Ronan Hall, but they saw out the win to sit just five points behind their opponents, with 23 in fourth, with two games in hand.

"The players really produced a superb show and were worthy winners over a team which has been very impressive so far this season," Raeside said.

"But we have to keep it going to maintain the pressure on the top sides."

Dunipace 2 Dundonald Bluebell 2

DUNDONALD BLUEBELL twice came back at Dunipace to earn a Premier Division point from a team who have made a very good start to the season.

The home side sit in seventh place in the table and opened the game well as both teams created chances.

However, on the half hour mark, Dunipace broke the deadlock when a defender broke forward and created the opening with a well-placed ball into the penalty area, where a good finish gave them the advantage.

However, within two minutes, the equaliser came when Ross Drummond and Corey Battrick combined well to allow the former to fire the ball into the net.

The second half began in an even fashion but, on the hour mark, the hosts forced a corner and, from that, the ball broke to a home forward to send home a low finish and restore Dunipace's advantage.

But, within two minutes, the game was level when Aiden Hendry sent a header into the home box and Drummond bot to the ball first to nod beyond the goalkeeper.

In the closing stages, it was the Bluebell who came closest to a winner, with Regan Lumsden hitting the bar, and then seeing the home goalkeeper stop a fierce shot from him.

Dundonald are 10th in the table, with 15 points from 12 matches, and boss Jason Dair said: "It was a game which saw both sides create a lot of chances and in the closing phase of the match we had enough openings to take the three points.”

Thornton Hibs 1 Crossgates Primrose 0

CROSSGATES PRIMROSE saw their five game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end after they were edged out at Thornton Hibs.

They had won three and drawn one of their last four First Division encounters prior to Saturday's Fife derby, as well as progressing in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup last time out, but Keir Allan's first half goal condemned them to defeat.

Alan Campbell's men had plenty of opportunities throughout, but just couldn't find the finish, and the Humbug Park boss reflected: "We were obviously very disappointed with the result but, certainly, I wasn't disappointed with the performance.

"Anybody who was at the game, even if you were a Thornton supporter, you would've said we deserved something out of it, particularly second half. We did everything but score, really, so it was just one of those days.

"I think the one true bit of quality in the whole game was their goal. The boy's hit a great shot from about 20 yards right into the top corner, and we just didn't trouble their goalie enough, or we didn't get the breaks in front of goal. It was a mixture of us being poor in the final third, and probably them defending quite well, to be fair to them.

"A couple of decisions went against us as well but there was nothing to be down about. I think the first half an hour, we weren't quite our normal selves, but we started to gain a bit of control. We started to look like our normal selves, we created a few chances, and, like I say, we pretty much did everything bar score, really."

Crossgates remain third in the table, with 23 points from 11 matches played.

Kirkcaldy and Dysart 1 Lochore Welfare 1

A FEISTY First Division derby in the Lang Toun saw the points shared between Kirkcaldy and Dysart and Lochore Welfare.

Defences were on top during the opening period, despite chances being created at both ends, the best of which fell to Gregg Page, after Joe Kirby's fine pass, but he was denied by a fine save from the home goalkeeper.

The Welfare created a number of second half openings, with Ciaran Healy in particular posing problems, and he was also denied by a smart stop.

Tempers flared late on, with Logan Donaldson penalised for a tackle inside the box with allowed Kirkcaldy and Dysart to take the lead, only for Lochore to dramatically level a minute later.

Healy was felled inside the the home penalty area by the goalkeeper and, although Sean Cusick's spot-kick was blocked, he followed-up to score the equaliser.

Kirkcaldy and Dysart finished the game with 10 men, after a defender was sent off for comments made after the concession of the penalty for Lochore, who sit second bottom and three points from safety.

Manager James Adam said: "We didn’t create much in the opening half hour but after that we were the better side.

"To be honest it is doubtful if either of the penalty awards was the right decision, but if we had lost that game it would have been a complete injustice."

Edinburgh Community 2 Lochgelly Albert 6

LOCHGELLY ALBERT maintained their clear lead at the top of the Third Division after claiming an emphatic win at Edinburgh Community.

However, they needed a second half comeback to ensure victory over a stuffy home side.

There was an early blow for the visitors when goalkeeper, Adam Shaw, injured an ankle whilst going up for a cross, and he was replaced by young Stan Greenwood.

The capital outfit then took an early lead but, within a few minutes, the Berts were level when Lewis Haggert sent a ball into the box for Declan Boyle to score.

Edinburgh continued to look dangerous however and, before half-time, they grabbed a second goal after the ball brooke loose, in their favour, inside the Albert box.

Frontman Jens Moret came on for the visitors for the second period and, within eight minutes of the restart, Dylan Geddes equalised with a looping header.

On the hour, Boyle's free-kick put Lochgelly ahead for the first time in the match, before Scott Russell provided the assist for Kieran Boundy to head home number four.

Soon after, Greenwood made a fine save to maintain Lochgelly's two-goal advantage, before Moret followed up on Boundy's blocked shot to make it 5-2.

A fine second half display was capped by Kyle Smith adding a sixth Albert goal, after good work by Moret, as they extended their advantage over second-placed Hawick Royal Albert, who drew at Newburgh, to 11 points.

Berts committee man, Derek Patrick, said: "The first-half was a little ragged from us but in the second period we started to play really well and the goals flowed which allowed us to move into a clear position at the top of the table."

Saturday's fixtures: East of Scotland League, Premier Division: Dundonald Bluebell v Whitburn (2.30pm), Hutchison Vale v Hill of Beath Hawthorn (3pm). First Division: Edinburgh South v Crossgates Primrose (2pm), Lochore Welfare v Leith Athletic (2pm). Third Division: Pumpherston v Lochgelly Albert (2pm).