DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup second round: Kelty Hearts 3 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0

KELTY HEARTS made it three wins from three against their nearest rivals as they marched into the East of Scotland Cup third round.

Thomas Courts’ Super League leaders were too hot for derby foes Hill of Beath Hawthorn thanks to a goal from Brian Ritchie and a second-half double from Man of the Match Stephen Husband.

The visitors, who had already lost 5-2 at home to Hearts in September in the league before enduring a 5-0 thumping in the Junior Cup at New Central Park in January, were out to atone for those defeats and threatened early on when Derek Renton saw a shot blocked.

However, it was the home side, who took a seventh-minute lead.

Conrad Courts was the provider; latching on to a cross-field pass on the left, he took on the Haws’ full back inside the box before squaring the ball across the six-yard box for Ritchie to latch on to and crash home into the roof of the net.

Jordyn Sheerin was not too far off target with a speculative effort as Kelty pressed for a second but Hill of Beath remained a threat on the counter-attack and Calum Adamson should have hit the target when he got on the end of a long ball over the home defence but he snatched at the chance and the ball ended wide of Kyle Marley’s goal.

Back at the other end, Conrad Courts was only denied a fine individual goal by the fingertips of Stuart Hall before the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to double their advantage.

Ritchie was bundled to the ground as he chased a flighted ball forward and, after appearing to initially signal for a free kick, the referee awarded a penalty after consulting with his assistant. Husband took the kick but Hall guessed correctly and got a strong arm to the ball to make a fine save before Russell Grierson denied the midfielder a certain tap-in with a tremendous tackle on the rebound.

Neil McCabe was denied by a smart Hall block just before the break and the opportunities kept coming in the second half, with Ritchie having a shot tipped over after neatly turning away from the Haws’ defence.

With 25 minutes left, Hearts earned themselves some breathing space thanks to a well-taken Husband free kick that curled low around the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

Husband came close to a third when Hall produced acrobatics to push his first-time shot from Murray Carstairs’ cut-back to safety but, with four minutes left, he did grab his second when he rifled home a right-foot shot from the left edge of the area.

Manager Courts commented: "It was a really pleasing result and performance. The previous week (against Broxburn) we got the result but not the performance, but on Saturday it was a top performance from us.

"To be fair to Hill of Beath, they stuck to their task but I thought we were in a good groove, dominated the ball and created chances. We were back to playing with a freedom and it was nice to see the players express themselves because of the uncertainty a defeat brings.

"Against Broxburn we were down to 13 players but this week we've got Craig Thomson, Stuart Cargill and Devon Jacobs back, so we'll be back to full strength.

"It looks like we'll be playing teams like Linlithgow, Bo'ness and Bonnyrigg in close succession but these are games that will take care of themselves.

"We've got a massive game on Saturday against Dundonald; Stevie (Kay) is a top manager who knows how to get the best out of teams, and I think that the job he has done there in such a short space of time is phenomenal.

"Weather permitting, it should be a cracker but we're going there with the intention of getting three points."

DJ Laing East of Scotland Cup second round: Dundee North End 3 Crossgates Primrose 2

PRIMROSE boss Andy Brown praised his team despite suffering a late exit in the East of Scotland Cup on Saturday.

The Humbug Park battlers produced a spirited display against North Division Dundee North End but hat-trick hero Pat Martin’s goal 10 minutes from time proved the difference in an entertaining tie.

Crossgates’ hopes were dealt a blow in the 11th minute when they fell behind to Martin’s ferocious first-time effort from the edge of the box that flew beyond keeper Rab Wilson and in to the top corner.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to respond, however, as, within nine minutes, they were level thanks to Stuart Donaldson after he latched onto a cutback.

Play raged from end to end and Crossgates had more than their fair share of opportunities before they took one just after the half-hour mark. Jamie McNeish was the supplier, playing an excellent pass on the right through for hitman Liam Forbes to run on to and calmly stroke first time beyond the North End goalkeeper via the far post.

North End were given the chance to level before the break when Primrose conceded a penalty but Dayle Robertson blazed his kick high over the bar to ensure the visitors retained their lead at the interval.

With 25 minutes to go, the Taysiders levelled when Martin flicked home a header from a wicked set-piece delivery before breaking Primrose’s hearts late on.

A long ball over the top caught out Crossgates’ defence and, as Wilson came charging out to the edge of his box to meet it, Martin got there first and nodded it beyond him before running on to tap in.

Brown though was pleased with his team’s performance and commented: “We played well; it was a good game and I think they maybe underestimated us a wee bit and got a bit of a fright. Even the referee said to me afterwards that we’d let them off the hook.

“It’s the best we’ve played probably since Blackburn (3-1 win) in the first round of this competition.”

Brown recently completed the signing of 19-year-old centre back Andy McDonald from Oakley United and he praised the newcomer’s contribution, adding: “He turned 19 on Saturday and was Man of the Match. He’s got a lot to learn but will come on leaps and bounds; he uses his size well and is a fit laddie – I’ve not seen anyone shred him for pace. He’ll be a good addition.

“It’s about developing and building for next year. We’re coming together as a group and we’ll go again on Saturday.”

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Dundonald Bluebell v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com South Division – Kirkcaldy YM v Crossgates Primrose, Oakley United v Dunbar United, West Calder United v Rosyth.