Published: Thursday, 20th November, 2008 07:30
Kelty Hearts swoop to sign midfielder from Oakley United
By Simon Harris
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Action from the game between Kelty (blue shirts) and Whitburn
Pic by: Dunfermline Press
KELTY boss Stevie Leighton has swooped to snatch midfielder John Rushford from West Fife rivals Oakley United as he seeks to stiffen up his squad.
Press Sport revealed last week that Leighton was close to signing the battling-type of midfielder he’s been keen to land for some time and now the Jambos boss has finally got his man in the shape of 26-year-old Oakley captain Rushford, who had been with United for eight years.
“I’m absolutely delighted to get him,” Leighton told Press Sport.
“He’s the sort of midfielder we have been missing. We’ve been after him since July but he’s been pretty loyal to Oakley.
“There could still be another signing within the next month. We’re looking for another hard juniors player as it’s what we are missing.
“Hopefully, things will start to come together. We’re not trying to sign players because we’re getting beat, it’s because the balance isn’t right.”
Kelty were down to the bare bones once again for Saturday’s match at home to Whitburn, with Leighton’s assistant, Craig Smart, on the bench for the 1-1 draw.
When Leighton’s son, Garry, went down with flu early on Friday morning, the manager was pressed into action in the transfer market and had to make the emergency signing of Cowdenbeath centre half Dean Drouge on Friday night on a six-week loan deal.
“He went straight into the team and that shows you how short we were,” Leighton said.
“To get four points out of six from our last two games at Bathgate and at home to Whitburn with the personnel problems we’ve had, I’m delighted.”
After falling behind to Whitburn just past the hour mark, Kelty drew level when Adam Moffat equalised with just six minutes remaining.
“After the game the boys felt it was more like two points dropped rather than one gained as we had a stonewall penalty not given right at the end,” Leighton said.
Kelty have a break this weekend with no game and Leighton hopes to welcome back his son as well as Tam McGeorge, Dennis Currie, Stefan Winiarski, who has not played all season with a groin problem, and Rushford, who has been injured for Oakley, before their next match, away at Linlithgow.
“One week myself and Smarty might have the luxury of leaving someone out of the 16,” Leighton joked.
As well as the blow of losing Rushford, Oakley boss Stevie Kay was licking the wounds of a 6-0 hammering away at table-toppers Musselburgh to leave Oakley rooted to the foot of the table.
“It was a shock to the system,” he conceded, but added, “It was always going to be tough but going down to 10 men after 25 minutes didn’t help.”
Full back William Campbell was shown the red card following a tackle and Kay said, “It was weird. No-one from Musselburgh complained.
"It was maybe a booking at most and it took him (the referee) about a minute to decide before he showed a straight red card.”
Four goals in the last quarter of the game gave the final scoreline a distorted look.
Disappointed to lose Rushford, Kay said, “The damage had been done before we got here. The flame was extinguished before we had the chance to speak to him.
“We’ve turned the corner and made improvements and what we could do with now are reinforcements and we are in negotiations with two or three.
“Our next two games are at home to Fauldhouse and Kinnoull and we need a minimum four or six points. Home games are crucial.”
Rosyth are sitting pretty at the top of the East Central League after routing Lochgelly 6-3 away.
With nearest rivals St Andrews dropping points against Jeanfield, it was a good weekend for Recs.
“We scored some good goals,” co-manager Paul Mooney said.
“It was heart attack stuff at times with our defending but to score six goals away is really pleasing.”
Former Rosyth defender Jordan Laird has rejoined the club from Kelty and Mooney said, “He’d fallen out of favour at Kelty and a few clubs bigger than us were fighting to get him but he’s a Rosyth lad and he expressed an interest in returning to Rosyth and helping us win promotion.”
Saturday fixtures: East Premier League – Oakley United v Fauldhouse United. East Central League – Crossgates Primrose v Thornton Hibs, Steelend Victoria v Scone Thistle, Rosyth Recreation v Bankfoot. Kick-offs 1.45pm.
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