Published: Thursday, 5th June, 2008 11:55
Kelty Hearts trounce Scottish Cup winners to reach semi-final
By Sports editor Simon Harris
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Action from the Maloco + associates cup semi-final between Kelty (blue shirts) and Glenrothes. Kelty won in a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
Pic by: Dunfermline Press
KELTY HEARTS produced one of their best performances of the season to thrash Scottish Cup winners Bathgate 4-0 and march into the semi-finals of the East of Scotland Cup on Tuesday night.
Bathgate, who had lifted Scottish junior football’s biggest prize on Sunday, were a goal down in just 20 seconds after Hearts hitman Tam McGeorge netted.
John Martin made it two on half an hour and it could easily have been three or four soon after but Martin and McGeorge both spurned one-on-one chances with the Bathgate keeper.
The West Lothian side were reduced to nine men towards the end of the second half and Graeme Findlay bagged a brace to round off an impressive victory.
The win sets up a semi-final away to Super League form side Bonnyrigg on Saturday and follows victory last week in the semi-finals of the Maloco + associates Cup, when the Jambos edged through to the final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out triumph over Glenrothes.
“To be fair we were really up for it,” Kelty boss Stevie Leighton told Press Sport following Tuesday’s Bathgate rout.
“We beat them 2-1 two weeks ago but on Tuesday we really went for the jugular.
“They may have been a bit weary from Sunday but we still had to do our job.”
What made the victory even more impressive is that Kelty, who have a squad of 17 including two goalkeepers, were missing Russell Smart, Davie Ross, Stefan Winiarski and Darren Seath and had to name two amateurs and a Sunday League player on the bench.
“We gave them respect as Scottish Cup winners and clapped them on the park and then went for the jugular,” Leighton said.
“Normally these types of teams dictate the pace of the game but from the first whistle, when Tam McGeorge scored, we played some really good football.
“The pleasing thing was that a lot of the things my assistant, Craig Smart, has been working hard on recently with the boys in training , came off.”
Saturday’s semi-final clash at Bonnyrigg will be a big ask, with either Camelon or Whitburn lying in wait in the final.
“We’ve probably got a harder game than Tuesday against Bonnyrigg as they are the form team and beat the champions, Lochee United, 5-0 at the weekend,” Leighton acknowledged.
“Our squad is right down to the bare bones but I take my hat off to the boys, they’ve been grinding out the results recently and have only lost to Lochee in the last 10 games.
“When we last played Bonnyrigg they got a really late equaliser and they deserved it.
“But if we perform and defend like we did on Tuesday, as a unit and as a team, we will beat anyone. Tam McGeorge and John Martin, with Ian Mauchlan supporting, are terrifying defences just now.
“We are at the party so we have a chance.”
Leighton admitted the pressure had been taken off his team in Tuesday’s semi-final because of last Saturday’s shoot-out semi win in the local cup.
It couldn’t have been more dramatic as, after drawing 1-1, Kelty found themselves two down in the penalty shoot-out.
Step forward keeper Alan Fleming, who then saved two Glens kicks and another hit the bar, while Kelty scored their last three to go through.
“He was absolutely different class,” Leighton said.
“The thing is, it’s not the first time he’s done that. We went 2-0 down but you just know the big man is going to save two.
“I asked him before Tuesday’s match, ‘Do you fancy penalties again?’ and he just said, ‘Bring them on!’”
Kelty will start as favourites to win the Maloco + associates Cup, with the final against Thornton at Hill of Beath on 13th June.
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