Hearts stay in touch with win over Gretna

It is as you were in the Lowland League with the top three all winning, meaning Kelty Hearts stay in third place.

Hearts didn’t start all that well at home to Gretna and had to thank Scott Christie for saving a second-minute penalty.

Barry Ferguson’s men took the lead on the half-hour through Brian Ritchie before an own goal made it 2-0 just two minutes later. Murray Carstairs made it 3-0 on 41 minutes and the same man added a fourth just before the break.

In the East of Scotland League, Oakley United enjoyed a 2-0 Conference A win at home to Tweedmouth. Johnny Harrison and Stuart Love were the scorers for Stuart Kenny’s side.

The win opens up a four-point gap to Peebles Rovers whose game at home to Musselburgh fell foul of the weather.

Another game to suffer at the hands of the weather was Hill of Beath’s visit to Easthouses Lily.

It started badly for Burntisland Shipyard at Bo’ness United as the Fife men went behind to an Allan McKenzie goal after just 15 seconds of their Conference B meeting.

McKenzie doubled the advantage on 22 minutes and completed his hat-trick just after the restart before Brian Morgan made it 4-0 from the penalty spot on 65 minutes and Ryan Stevenson made it five with 15 to go.

Shippy pulled a goal back on 89 minutes but there was still time for Marty Wright to score a sixth for Bo’ness in added time.

Crossgates Primrose made the trip to Tranent but returned with no points from a 4-1 defeat.

Dean Whitson put Tranent in front on 57 minutes and Robert Berry made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later.

Chris Gray added a third on 79 minutes before Ben Miller added a fourth with five minutes remaining. Scott Lawrie scored a consolation in stoppage time for Crossgates.

Conference C leaders Broxburn were made to work hard at Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts before winning 4-1.

Craig Scott and Ross Nimmo scored in the first half to see the visitors lead 2-0 at the break but John Francis equalised with a great free-kick on 65 minutes.

Any nerves from the visitors were dispelled with five to go when Nimmo scored from the spot and Greg Binnie scored a fourth in added time.

Dundonald Bluebell romped to a 13-0 win over Eyemouth United in the first round of the King Cup at Moorside Park.

Jason Dair’s men led 5-0 at the break, Billy Rogerson scoring twice alongside efforts from Archie Campbell, Lewis McKenzie and Chris Gay.

After the break, McKenzie made it 6-0 before Campbell scored three times in six minutes and Calum Smith weighed in to take Bluebell into double figures.

McKenzie completed his hat-trick and two minutes later Rogerson did likewise before McKenzie scored a fourth to make it unlucky 13 for the visitors.

With Riverside Park unfit, Jeanfield Swifts and St Andrews United opted to bring forward their King Cup second-round clash at Barnetts Park.

St Andrews old boy Aaron Whitehead headed the opener after just two minutes and another former Saint, Robbie Holden, made it 2-0 on 26 minutes.

St Andrews pulled a goal back just after half-time through a Ryan McInnes penalty but any chance of a comeback was dented when Jason Penman was shown a second booking on the hour mark.

Swifts took advantage and Scott Smith scored a third not long after. McInnes pulled a second back for United in stoppage time with the goal of the game from 35 yards.