East of Scotland League:

Tynecastle 0 Kelty Hearts 2

King Cup quarter-final:

Heriott-Watt University 1 Kelty Hearts 5

KELTY HEARTS are on the verge of winning the East of Scotland League after battling to victory against Tynecastle on Tuesday night.

Thomas Courts' side returned to the Oriam training complex at Riccarton after Saturday's 5-1 win at Heriott-Watt University in the King Cup quarter-finals to move within one win of the championship.

Kelty, who have won all 22 of their league fixtures so far, face Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale – the only team that can overhaul them – on Saturday and a win would be enough to clinch glory, and a play-off for a place in next season's Lowland League.

They were given a tough examination of their credentials by a Tynecastle team that twice struck the woodwork but Murray Carstairs' 25th-minute opener and Stephen Husband's dinked penalty with 10 minutes to go clinched a valuable win.

Courts said: "We were up against a strong Tynecastle team who I think would suit the Lowland League. They're known as a passing team and put in a great performance – they hit the post twice – but we scored at good times.

"I thought Murray Carstairs and Sean O'Neil were outstanding at the back but a number of players stepped up last night.

"It's a monster pitch at Oriam; we've played two youthful, possession-based teams there and I think the players have been brilliant over the course of the two games.

"Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale have a tough schedule but we need to recover and prepare for Saturday. It's a position that we're accustomed to being in so we need to look to capitalise on that.

"The pressure is on them. We've earned the right to be in a strong position and we need to handle the game like any other and look at it as three big points.

"I can remember every signing talk and every player to a man said they signed for Kelty Hearts because of the ambition of the club.

"This is what they came to the club to do so I'm sure that they will be thoroughly looking forward to it. We're in good form and confident."

Meanwhile, Courts praised his players for a professional display after they also eased into the King Cup semi-finals.

Scott Dalziel scrambled a loose ball into the net from six yards to give them the lead after Neil McCabe's shot was spilled by the students' goalkeeper, before skipper Shaun Greig won a penalty that was fired home by Husband for a 2-0 half-time lead. Brian Ritchie's well-taken header made it three before Dalziel's fine strike with the outside of his boot increased the lead further.

Although Heriott-Watt scored a well-worked consolation, a superbly hit Scott-Taylor MacKenzie strike from a free kick sealed a convincing win.

Lochgelly Albert 0 Crossgates Primrose 3

A "textbook away performance" was how Primrose boss Alan Campbell described their impressive derby day win at Lochgelly Albert on Saturday.

The Humbug Park outfit struck two goals in as many second-half minutes to put them firmly on course for victory, which was sealed thanks to in-form Scott Hynd in the final minute.

The win moves Crossgates into the South Division's top four with four games remaining and Campbell has targeted maximum points.

After an edgy and even opening period, the visitors struck first at Gardiner's Park when Mark McKenzie fired them ahead four minutes after the break and he quickly added his and their second.

The points were secured when Hynd scored a third and Campbell said: "It was a textbook away performance. We lost Chris Hughes, who is an influential and experienced defender for us, in the warm-up but the back four and the goalkeeper were great. We never looked like losing a goal."

Pumpherston 2 Oakley United 0

OAKLEY UNITED boss Richard Fox was left frustrated by his team's lack of clinical finishing as their seven-game winning run came to an end.

The Blairwood Park outfit suffered their first defeat since January at the league leaders.

Both goals were scored in the first half and Fox commented: "I don't think there was much in it.

"We got off to a bad start, losing an early goal, and then they get a penalty right on half-time. Going in at 1-0, we would've had a different perspective on the game but it's hard to come back from that.

"The boys plugged away but I didn't think we were clinical enough. Both teams were well-matched and the boys worked hard but to beat teams at the top, you need everyone to be on song and a few weren't."

Stoneyburn 3 Rosyth 1

ROSYTH'S winning start under new manager Brian Muirhead came to an end after they fell to a disappointing defeat at second-bottom Stoneyburn.

The visitors made the worst possible start when they fell behind with just 15 seconds on the clock and their afternoon took another downturn when Stoneyburn scored a second goal with just over a quarter of an hour gone.

A nightmare opening half hour for Rosyth was completed when the hosts added a third goal and, although Stevie Slimmings pulled a goal back with 12 minutes left, the damage had been done ahead of this weekend's derby against Oakley – their final home game.

Muirhead said: "They outfought and out-battled us. It was a better performance in the second half but it wasn't good enough. The players know they let themselves, me and the club down but it was a good learning curve for me.

"We've got good football players but, in some games, you have to do the ugly side and we were found a bit wanting. There's not enough aggression.

"We had two 17-year-olds playing from the start, which was pleasing and about the only positive.

"Saturday is massive. It's our last game at home and the last at Recreation Park, so hopefully we can get a reaction and a result would be nice."

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com South Division – Rosyth v Oakley United. East of Scotland League – Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Kelty Hearts.