CHRIS LAIRD has saluted the "big hearts" in his Kelty Hearts Ladies squad after they lifted their first-ever trophy last week.

The team's head coach was thrilled with their "phenomenal" achievement in winning the Scottish Women's Football League (SWFL) Division Two Cup final against Spartans Academy on Thursday evening.

Following the launch of the Kelty Hearts Community Club, which outlined a vision of providing an inclusive player pathway from the age of three upwards, it was announced before Christmas that a ladies' team had been formed.

They have made a strong start to the season, winning six of their first seven SWFL Division Two East matches – the other was drawn 2-2 against Hutchison Vale Development on Sunday – and they have won their maiden cup competition.

Kelty saw off West Park United, Caithness, Ross County, Edinburgh Caledonia and Stonehaven to reach the showpiece, held at the Spartans Academy, against the capital side.

In a tight match, Spartans hit the post in the first half before Hearts had a strong penalty appeal turned down.

But, on the stroke of half-time, the West Fifers took the lead when skipper Claire Thomson latched onto a pass from deep and executed a superbly-taken lob over the advancing Spartans keeper.

Although Shannon Todd and Leah Boak both went close to an equaliser for Spartans, Kelty wrapped up the victory with five minutes left thanks to Jade Ferguson's header.

Laird, who led Bayside Ladies to last season's final, which they lost to Blackburn United after extra-time, said: "It's phenomenal.

"It was a tough game; Spartans Development are a really good team and had a couple of chances, but fortunately we took our chances when they came.

"They came at us and had a lot of pressure but when our chances came, we were ruthless.

"The girls were focused and had big hearts out there, which is what you look for in a final. It was a mix of everything at the end – relief, feeling overjoyed – and the players were bouncing.

"Some of the girls had been with me at Bayside last year, where we got beat in extra-time, so they had that extra motivation. It was part of my speech and one girl had been to four finals with me, and in three was on the losing side, so I knew how much it meant to pick up the trophy."

He added: "It will give us confidence for the rest of the league.

"We wanted a solid first season so to win the League Cup is a phenomenal achievement. If we were to be up there challenging in the top two or three, I'd be over the moon with that."

On Sunday, Kelty are back in league action at home to GOC Women's Academy, kick off is at 12.30pm.