IN the only game involving a local junior side to beat the freezing weather Kelty Hearts continue3d their unbeaten run with a win at Broxburn.

The other matches were victims of the frost of the previous few days and while the temperatures rose on Saturday morning Broxburn Athletic’s astro-turf pitch was the only one to be playable.

Broxburn Athletic 1,

Kelty Hearts 2.

THIS Super League game was a real tough assignment for the leaders Kelty but theey battled away and a late goal gave them the result which further stretches their advantage at the top of the table.

On a bright sunny afternoon Broxburn, a solid middle of the table unit, ensured that there were no easy pickings for Hearts.

It was a real hard battle which saw Hearts play most of the good football but find Broxburn in their faces at every corner.

The opening 20 minutes saw Hearts have the better of the chances and Stuart Cargill twice went close while Broxburn did not really threaten at the other end.

Then in 24 minutes came the opener. A quickly taken free kick released Cargill and his cross was first times into the corner of the net by Nelly McCabe from just inside the box.

Broxburn came back at Hearts and they came close seven minutes from the break when a shot beat Kyle Markey but was booted off the line.

Ahead at the interval Hearts opened the second period confidently and there were a couple of close things around the Broxburn goal but just after the hour Athletic levelled.

A free-kick was whipped into the box and a neat finish from close in squared things up.

From then on Broxburn believed they could take something from the game if not win it and they forced several corners which the visiting team handled well.

A time went on it looked like it could end in a draw but with only four minutes left a high ball into the Broxburn box was not dealt with by the home ‘keeper and the ball broke to Stephen Husband who forced the ball into the net from close in to clinch all three points.

It was a well earned win which Hearts player/boss Thomas Courts underlined in a tweet after the match when he said: “Nothing vintage in that performance but loads of guts, determination and desire.

“Great character to earn the three points.”

Thus early it is clear that the title is going to be a shoot out between Kelty and current champions Bonnyrigg Rose.

Hearts are on 40 points from 14 games with Rose in second place on 27 with 11 played. Third placed Boness United are on 22 from 11, and Bonnyrigg’s involvement in the Willia Hill Scottish Cup is causing them to miss league games and if Hearts can keep piling up the points the Lothians side will have a stiff task to catch them, especially as they could face three games a week in the latter stages of the season.

Saturday’s fixtures: Ethx Energy Scottish Junior Cup third round, Kirriemuir Thistle v Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

McBookie.com East Super League, Kelty Hearts v Fauldhouse United, Dundonald Bluebell v Carnoustie Panmure. McBookie.com South Division, Edinburgh United v Lochgelly Albert, Crossgates Primrose v Livingston United. McBookie.com North Division, Thornton Hibs v Lochore Welfare (all games 1.45pm).