Dunfermline Press | Sport | Hearts facing four games a week in climax

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 3rd May, 2007 12:00

Hearts facing four games a week in climax

By Sports Desk

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Pic by: Dunfermline Press

KELTY HEARTS could be faced with a crippling fixture backlog of 23 matches this month.

The Scottish Cup finalists have been told they may have to face matches on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to fulfil their fixtures between now and the end of the season.

In addition to the Scottish Cup final on Sunday, 3rd June, Hearts have reached the League Cup final and have 11 league games left.

They’re also still involved at the second round stage of both the East of Scotland and Tayside Cups – meaning another five games in each if they were to get to either final.

Boss Stevie Leighton said, “It’s hard when you’re in part-time football as you’re trying to hold down a job as well and it’s mentally as well as physically draining.”

Kelty lifted some of the burden on Tuesday night by losing 2-1 at Dundonald in the Maloco and Associates Cup. John Martin scored the goal for Kelty, who face key league games away to Scone tonight (Thursday) and Armiston on Saturday.

Oakley boss Willie Newbigging is refusing to panic despite seeing his Super League strugglers slump to a 2-0 defeat on Saturday.

The Blairwood Park side need seven points from their remaining four matches to guarantee their place in the top tier after failing to take their chances in the defeat at Bathgate.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Newbigging, coming a week after his side had been clinical in thumping high-flying Tayport 5-1 on their own patch.

“We’ve been playing well for about a month but apart from in the Tayport game, we’ve not been putting the chances away and that’s my only gripe,” Newbigging told Press Sport.

“We played some good football, had a lot of possession of the ball on Saturday and had four really good chances.

“That’s the disappointing thing but I couldn’t ask for any more, effort-wise. We’re just not putting the ball in the back of the net and if I could put my finger on why, I’d be manager of Rangers. It’s just one of those things. Strikers go through phases and everything at Tayport worked for us.”

Looking ahead to the run-in, Newbigging added, “I’m still upbeat. I ken games are running out but I still have great belief in the boys. I’m not going to jump ship and I won’t be hitting the panic button.

“It’s all ifs and buts but it’s still very much in our own hands, which is the pleasing aspect.”

United are away at Whitburn this weekend in the Super League and Newbigging added, “It’s another cup final for us, they’re all cup finals for a team like Oakley.”

A hat-trick of headers from Tam McGeorge gave Rosyth a 3-1 Redwood Leisure Cup win at home to Forfar Athletic to the delight of Recreation Park boss Billy Spence.

Rosyth return to Premier League action with an away game at Armadale this weekend. Recs are second in the table, nine points behind leaders Glenrothes with three games in hand and a point ahead of Musselburgh and North End with two games in hand on both.

“We’re getting to the nitty gritty and the next two to three weeks will tell the story,” Spence said. “Kelty are probably favourites to go up and we’ll know more after we play them in 10 days.”

In the Whyte & Mackay East Central League, Steelend drew 0-0 at home to Lochore Welfare while Crossgates were beaten 3-0 at home to Lochgelly.