Published: Thursday, 26th April, 2007 12:00
Net gains fire Kelty into final
By Rob Meaden
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Pic by: Dunfermline Press
KELTY HEARTS’ 3-0 win over Kilwinning on Saturday, which will see them play in the Scottish Junior Cup final at East End Park on 3rd June, avenges memories of their cup final defeat in 1999.
And revenge was sweet for the Jambos, who also found some extra motivation from the opposition’s website to add further fuel to the fire.
Their season’s top scorer, Iain Mauchlen, explained, “I’ve never seen a group of boys come out of a dressing room like that before.
“Everybody was looking around at each other and thinking we’re in this together. We can win this together or we can lose this together and thankfully we’ve come out on top.”
John Martin, on loan from East Fife, summed up the emotions of the players, “I’m just absolutely delighted. It’s my first semi-final and it’s a great feeling. I’m just lost for words.
“I came to Kelty to get some match experience, and to be playing finals and semi-finals is an amazing achievement.”
The reaction of the players was testament to the new management team of Stevie Leighton and his assistant Craig Smart.
“I played junior football for 13 years and it’s probably my proudest moment,” said manager Leighton. “The team were first class from start to finish. I think Kilwinning will be happy it was only three.
“We’ve done some work between the two of us and it’s seven days a week. It’s our first season in charge and we’ve got a young side.
“Hopefully, it signals a good future for the club – and if nothing else it keeps us in a job for two or three weeks as well.”
Smart added, “It’s just a great day for the club, from the committee to the management and for the players.
“Now we’ve got a very special occasion to look forward to. The following that we’ll get with the final being a Sunday and the end of the season will be something very special.”
Leighton added, “If we could have handpicked a venue I don’t think we could have chosen a better place.
“It will be a fantastic occasion. I only live three miles from the ground and a lot of the players are the same. It’s still a bit surreal.
“Linlithgow Rose are a very well supported club so I think it could be very close to a sell-out. The atmosphere will be something special and I’m hoping it will give the players a boost rather than scare anybody. They’re a young team and they play with no fear.”
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