Kelty Hearts 1 Camelon 1

KELTY HEARTS saw their 100 per cent winning league record grind to a halt as Camelon Juniors secured a well-earned point at Central Park on Saturday.

The Super League leaders’ dominant form had seen them record 12 victories from 12 in league and cup but, despite the match being switched to Kelty due to Camelon’s Carmuirs Park being deemed unplayable, Thomas Courts’ men dropped their first points of the campaign.

Stuart Cargill had an early effort that failed to trouble the visitors, who were resolute in defence and then shocked the home side by taking a first-half lead when Calum Scott drilled a low drive into the bottom corner and beyond goalkeeper Kyle Marley after playing a neat one-two with Alan Sneddon.

The home side responded well after the break, going close through Brian Ritchie and Cargill, and it was the former who rescued a point as he powered home a header from Stephen Husband’s cross.

Despite their best efforts, Hearts couldn’t find a winner, and will now be looking to get back on the winning trail this weekend, when they entertain Aberdeen University in the Junior Cup.

Courts said: “The opening 45 minutes were not at all good from our point of view with our attacking play below our standards, but in the second half we got back into things with Brian’s goal and really could have won it in the closing stages.

“It was the end of the winning run but we could not have asked to be in a better position at this stage and now we have the Scottish Cup to concentrate on this week.

“We have the size of squad that can cope with multiple competitions and we want to go as far as we can in the Scottish Cup.”

Oakley Utd 2 West Calder 1

LEE RICHARDSON says his side will not fear Junior Cup opponents Irvine Meadow after watching his players rack up their third win of the season on Saturday.

Goals from Lee Celentano and Cameron Smith sealed a hard-fought three points against West Calder at Blairwood Park to give the West Fifers the ideal preparation ahead of their visit to Ayrshire on Saturday.

Although now playing in the second tier of the west region, three-time cup winners Meadow remain a big name in the junior game.

Richardson said: “They are a big name but we’re going there with no worries and I’ll tell the players to go out and enjoy themselves.

“There’s no expectations on us and we’ll go there with no fear and to play.

“The Scottish Cup is a fairytale and there are always one or two upsets; I hope that we can be one of them this time.”

They will go into the tie in good heart following this win and with a striker in Celentano who is enjoying excellent form.

His glancing header gave Oakley a 10th-minute lead only for the visitors to quickly level, but in a second period that Richardson described as “stuffy”, Smith grabbed the winner with 10 minutes left.

Richardson continued: “On Saturday I changed the shape to 4-3-3 because we had a trialist up front, and for the first 20 minutes we were outstanding.

“We could’ve been four or five up but we lost a silly goal from a free-kick and after that we were all over the shop and lost our shape.

“Our heads went down a bit and we started panicking, so I decided to change back to what the players have been used to.

“The game got a bit stuffy; they were probably the better team without creating a lot, and I felt we had more chances.

“But we battled well, dug in and our fitness levels were good, and got the winner with 10 minutes to go.

“Maybe five or six weeks ago we would’ve lost that game but the team spirit and togetherness is really good, and they’re fighting for each other.

“Our fitness levels are through the roof now and the players can see where all the work’s went.”

Livingston Utd 4 Crossgates 5

PRIMROSE boss Andy Brown is happy with his side’s progress as they continued their unbeaten away record by winning a thriller at Livingston.

Debutant Ethan Anderson, who signed with the side on loan from Berwick’s Under-20s, scored the winner in a dramatic nine-goal game at Station Park to move Crossgates on to eight points after seven South Division matches.

A double from Liam Forbes, as well as strikes from Stuart Donaldson and Darren Carroll, saw Crossgates come from behind twice to lead 4-3 in the second half before Richard Kay equalised.

Anderson’s goal turned out to be the winner and a delighted Brown said: “We played well and a lot of teams might go there and not get anything.

“We’re getting there with the squad and signed Ethan, who scored the winner.

“We’re building momentum and I’m happy with where we are at the minute, but we’re still five to six weeks away from where I want us to be.

“We’ll keep building and take one game at a time.

“Daz Carroll scored a 25-yard free-kick and if it had been Ronaldo that had scored it they would keep showing it. I’ve never seen a boy hit the ball so hard.

“We showed resilience; in the first half we hit the bar twice in two seconds and we were cutting through them a lot in the first and second half.

“Wee things are costing us at the minute but if we play to our strengths we can give anyone a game.”

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup – Irvine Meadow v Oakley United, Kelty Hearts v Aberdeen University, Lewis United v Rosyth. McBookie.com South Division – Crossgates Primrose v Kirkcaldy YM.