GeoSonic Lowland League:

Kelty Hearts 2 East Stirlingshire 0

A DAY of celebration for Kelty Hearts boss Thomas Courts began in style on Saturday as he watched his side move to within three points of the Lowland League summit.

To mark his 11th consecutive campaign – and 13th overall – with the club as both a player and a manager, a testimonial dinner attracted more than 200 people to New Central Park following the clash with East Stirlingshire.

His players ensured the evening would take place against a backdrop of another successful afternoon on the pitch as goals from Matthew Gay and Stuart Cargill moved the East of Scotland League champions up to third.

They faced a Shire side, who were playing in the SPFL until 2016, under new management in the shape of former captain Derek Ure but they were on the back foot inside the opening 10 minutes.

Brian Ritchie began the move that led to Kelty's opener, advancing into the visitors' half and spreading a pass to Cargill on the left, and he whipped in a sublime cross that Gay met with a bullet header that gave goalkeeper Jamie Barclay no chance.

They sealed victory with five minutes to go when Conrad Courts' driven free kick to the near post was flicked home by Cargill for his 12th goal of the campaign.

East of Scotland League, Conference A:

Oakley United 3 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4

RICHARD FOX felt his team lost "the right way" on Saturday after a seven-goal derby epic with Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

The Oakley United manager was full of praise for his side after they roared back from two goals down – with 10 men – to lead 3-2, before ultimately coming unstuck in the final five minutes.

Two divisions separated these teams in junior football last season but the Haws, who were in the Super League, were given a huge fright in this Conference A clash at Blairwood Park.

Darrin Wright's first-half penalty gave the visitors the initiative and, when Ricky Patrick doubled the advantage just after the restart, the odds of a result looked stacked against Oakley.

They lengthened further when they were reduced to 10 men but, after Jack Cowan brought them back into it, Ryan Stevenson hauled them level before, incredibly, James McAteer's penalty completed the turnaround with 10 minutes to go.

Despite their fine efforts, a looping header from Michael Watt restored parity for Hill of Beath, who snatched all three points in the final minute through Calum Adamson.

Fox, however, was far from downbeat and said: "I said to the boys afterwards that we've proved we can score goals against teams who were two divisions above us last year, so in that sense I was really pleased.

"It is a platform for us to move forward. If we're going to lose, I'd prefer to lose in the right way, and I felt we did on Saturday. We showed we can be disciplined and we can score goals. The lads gave everything and I'm more gutted for them that we didn't see the game out."

Conference B:

Crossgates Primrose 3 Sauchie 2

A SUPERB stoppage-time winner from Andy Watt clinched a dramatic comeback victory for Crossgates Primrose on Saturday.

The striker's "screamer" of a volley – as described by boss Alan Campbell – secured their first three points in Conference B after the Humbug Park side overturned a 2-1 deficit with just three minutes left.

In a thrilling match, Primrose led after a ninth-minute own goal before conceding twice. As the contest moved into the last 15 minutes, home goalkeeper Grant Henderson's penalty save kept his team in the game, and it proved to be vital.

Scott Hynd, who moved to Crossgates from the Beechwood Park club, was in the right place at the right time to net the equaliser before Watt's cracker won the day with virtually the last kick of the match.

Campbell beamed: "Andy Watt scored a goal that was fit to win any game. He caught it on the volley from 20 yards and it was a screamer.

"It was brilliant to see that go in, especially at that time of the game when they had no time to come back. The final whistle went as soon as they took centre, and it was great to win in that manner.

"Over the last couple of weeks, we've been on the end of a couple of undeserved results, and the players' efforts have been rewarded. I was really happy with the lads on Saturday. I'd prefer a scrappier win than that but those moments are what you're in football for."

League business will take a back seat when Hill of Beath Hawthorn arrive for a local derby in the SFA South Challenge Cup, and Campbell added: "It's a game for everyone to look forward to.

"What Saturday's win will do is give the guys a little bit more belief and confidence, and they should all be champing at the bit.

"Hill of Beath are like a yardstick for where we want to be and aspire to be. There's only a mile separating the two villages but they're a team that are doing well, have been at the top end of the juniors for a number of years and have an experienced management team.

"It's one to look forward to."

Conference C:

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 0 St Andrews United 2

INVERKEITHING Hillfield Swifts began life without Lee Richardson with defeat.

Richardson and coaches John Steele and Stephen Harley quit after their previous game, a 6-1 defeat to Edinburgh United in the Alex Jack Cup.

Experienced player Lee Duffy has been named caretaker manager but he could not find a victory to start his tenure.

The result leaves Inverkeithing bottom of the table – behind Ormiston and Blackburn United only on goal difference – with three defeats from as many games.

McBookie.com Premier League South:

Rosyth 2 Lochgelly Albert 2

A LATE fightback from Lochgelly Albert denied Rosyth their first league win of the season in an entertaining derby at the Fleet Grounds.

Brian Muirhead's team had picked up two points from their first four matches before welcoming former management team Barry Cockburn and Kevin Smith, and looked set to more than double that tally with seven minutes left.

A swift counter-attack from an Albert corner saw Rosyth break up field and open the scoring through Gregg Page, and things got even better when Dale Prattis headed home at a corner to double their advantage on the half-hour mark.

Although Stephen Stark and Stan Chitemere, a former Rec player, came close, the hosts looked on course for three points until the 83rd minute.

Stark headed home from a corner to give the visitors hope and then, in stoppage time, he was brought down in the box and Albert were awarded a penalty. Michael Perrie kept his nerve to net a dramatic equaliser and ensure Muirhead's search for a first maximum of the season goes on.

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): SFA South Challenge Cup, first round – Lochmaben v Kelty Hearts (3pm). Second round – Crossgates Primrose v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts v Craigroyston, Edinburgh University v Oakley United. McBookie.com Premier League South – Kirkcaldy YM v Rosyth.