Fife and Lothians Cup quarter-final: Tranent 2 Kelty Hearts 1

KELTY HEARTS’ treble dreams were shattered on Saturday as they were shocked by Tranent.

Brian Ritchie had an early effort saved as the visitors looked to assert their authority on proceedings but, in the 26th minute, they fell behind to opponents lying fourth in the Premier League in their first season at that level since winning promotion from the South Division.

Player-boss Thomas Courts under-hit his pass back to Kyle Marley in the Kelty goal which was seized on by Ben Miller, who beat the outrushing stopper to the ball and poked home.

Kelty tried to respond and Craig Thomson sent a free kick over but Marley rescued the visitors just before the break when he saved from Kayne Patterson when he looked certain to score.

Kelty levelled 11 minutes into the second half when good work by Stephen Husband found Archie Campbell on the left, who laid the ball off for Conrad Courts to take a touch and cross for Ritchie to head home at the far post.

Hearts had a huge let-off three minutes later when a long pass found Patterson racing in on goal but, fortunately for the West Fifers, his lob over the advancing Marley bounced off the bar.

Kelty fell behind for a second time with six minutes to go. The home side worked the ball out to the right for full back Alexander Christie to send a deep cross that was headed off the bar by Patterson but team-mate Kenny Fisher was there to nod home.

Kelty chased a second equaliser to force a penalty shoot-out and, although Husband came agonisingly close with a dipping effort that ended just over the bar, they were knocked out.

Despite exiting the cup, there was some good news for Kelty ahead of Saturday’s crunch Super League derby with Hill of Beath Hawthorn as Bonnyrigg Rose were beaten by Musselburgh Athletic on Monday.

That means Kelty’s lead at the top with three games to go – one of which will be at home to Bonnyrigg – is 15 points, while their rivals have seven games left.

It means Hearts will be crowned champions for a second time in three seasons if they take maximum points but Courts commented: “We had prepared thoroughly for the match and had watched Tranent last week so we knew what we would face but the team just did not create enough at all.

“The first half was particularly disappointing but once we levelled things, I thought we could go on and at worst take things to a shoot-out, but a bit of indecision cost the winner.

“Now we have to look to finish as well as we can in the league and make a strong bid to win the East of Scotland Cup but we will have to play a lot better than on Saturday, starting with this weekend’s match against Hill of Beath at Kelty.”

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Kelty Hearts v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. McBookie.com South Division – Crossgates Primrose v Lochgelly Albert, Rosyth v Stoneyburn.