Musselburgh Athletic 1 Kelty Hearts 2 KELTY HEARTS boss Thomas Courts is relishing his side’s title run-in after they returned to winning ways at Musselburgh on Saturday.

Conrad Courts and Shaun Greig overturned Steven Thomson’s opener to earn a deserved victory that keeps Hearts in pole position to land a maiden Super League championship after nearest challengers Newtongrange Star slipped up at home to Fauldhouse.

With a traditionally hard-fought derby with rivals Hill of Beath Hawthorn looming large at Central Park on Saturday, Courts is braced for an enthralling end to the season after Bo’ness United won 2-0 at Linlithgow to remain 16 points behind but with five games in hand.

He said, “A lot of people may have been looking at Saturday as a massive test of our character and title credentials but I think we answered all of them. We created numerous chances and found another level of performance which I was really pleased with. The lads came out fast from the traps and had Musselburgh pegged back for long spells.

“We did miss a few chances and then lost a goal but we just came right back at Musselburgh and levelled soon after and really should have scored at least twice more before the interval.” Defeat to Armadale in their last outing was a shock to Kelty’s system but they set about bouncing back from the kick-off against the Junior Cup semi-finalists, with Craig O’Reilly and Stuart Cargill threatening in the opening stages.

But against the run of play, they found themselves behind after 19 minutes when Thomson glanced a header beyond Kyle Allison from a deep cross.

Kelty, however, continued to make chances and they got their reward with a deserved equaliser 10 minutes before half-time when Conrad Courts fired an excellent free kick through the defensive wall and into the net from the edge of the box.

Play continued to move towards the Musselburgh goal after the interval, with Cargill crashing a shot off the bar, but the winner came courtesy of a powerful run from skipper Greig with 20 minutes remaining.

After winning the ball midway inside the home side’s half, he surged his way clear of three challenges before firing a crisp low drive beyond the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.

Courts added, “To go a goal down while on top was disappointing but at 1-1 against the wind at half-time, we had a foundation to build from and the message from me was to find another gear and we did that.

“We haven’t suffered back-to-back defeats this season and maybe people were wondering if we were feeling the pressure. But when you look at the results on Saturday and see that Newtongrange were 2-0 up at home but drew, that is the beauty of the Super League.

“I think having Hill of Beath at home is the perfect fixture for us on Saturday. Being our rivals, they will want to win but we know a lot about them and how they will set up. It comes off the back of a big result and if you can take six points from the likes of Hill of Beath, Newtongrange and Musselburgh then you won’t be far away. The game will take care of itself but it’s a chance to make it back-to-back wins.” Forfar West End 4 Oakley United 0 OAKLEY UNITED’S first Premier League game in four weeks ended in disappointment as they were humbled by Forfar West End.

James Watt’s team had only played one match since their 2-2 draw at Arniston Rangers on 28th February – a 3-1 defeat by Bo’ness United in the Fife and Lothians Cup – and suffered their seventh away defeat of the season despite holding their hosts for an hour.

The home side, who occupy 12th position in the table, got their noses in front when Graeme Hart opened the scoring from the penalty spot and five minutes later it looked set to be double trouble for the visitors as they conceded another penalty but Hart’s effort this time was well saved.

But a second goal was merely delayed and Matt Reynolds was on hand to grab it with 20 minutes remaining before substitute Darren Scott netted a late double to ensure Oakley remain eighth in the table, 10 points clear of second-bottom Glenrothes having played three games more.

Whitburn Juniors 3 Crossgates Primrose 1 DAVID MCNEELY was pleased with his side’s efforts despite going down to defeat at Whitburn in the South Division.

The Crossgates manager said there were plenty of positives in their performance as the home side captialised on Rosyth and Falkirk’s inactivity to move six points clear in the race for the second promotion place.

Although he admits his team are likely to finish the campaign bottom of the table with just four games remaining, he felt his players had given themselves a platform to build on heading into next season after a dogged display in West Lothian.

The home side created the clearer chances in the opening half, with Gary Brass going closest with an effort that was cleared off the Primrose line, before he opened the scoring just before the interval when he connected with Lee Brown’s cross, giving goalkeeper Robert Wilson no chance.

Crossgates did have chances of their own as the second period progressed as both Stephen Stark and Dale Prattis went close but, as they chased an equaliser, Primrose were caught out with 14 minutes left when Brown controlled Jordan Bain’s cross and rifled the ball into the net.

A third goal was added just two minutes later when Brown set up Bain to score but Jamie McNeill grabbed a deserved consolation with five minutes left with a well-taken goal.

McNeely said, “We did well and the biggest plus for me was that they had to work for their goals. Before, we’ve been selling goals but we didn’t give anything away. We lost a goal just before half-time and before then there was nothing in it and we had them worried. I changed it with 10 minutes or so to go as I thought I’d rather lose 3-0 by having a go than 1-0 and we lost two goals.

“Jamie McNeill took his goal well and I was pleased for him because he’s been struggling with injury which he’s just coming back from.

“It looks like we’re going to finish bottom but everyone is on trial if they want to be here next season. I’m already trying to bring in boys but I’ve learned lessons myself this year and all I can ask of them is to maintain that standard and if you get beaten by the better side, there’s nothing you can do about that.” Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Kelty Hearts v Hill of Beath Hawthorn. McBookie.com Premier League – Oakley United v Broughty Athletic. McBookie.com South Division – Rosyth v Stoneyburn Juniors, West Calder United v Crossgates Primrose.