Kelty up for the cup after Musselburgh win

Kelty Hearts warmed up for their Scottish Cup first round clash this weekend by comfortably seeing off Musselburgh Athletic in the Super League.

The reigning champions kept the pressure on leaders Bo'ness United with an impressive victory at Olivebank against last season's Junior Cup runners-up thanks to goals from Murray Carstairs, Garry Leighton and Stuart Cargill.

It was a third successive league win for Thomas Courts' side, who will tackle East of Scotland side Lothian Thistle on Saturday as they bid to continue on the road to Hampden in an historic senior Scottish Cup campaign.

Retaining their Super League crown is top of their agenda however and having started well in East Lothian, they took the lead midway through the first half when Stephen Husband's low corner was not dealt with by a static home defence and Carstairs reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range.

The advantage only lasted six minutes when Jackie Myles equalised from the spot for Musselburgh after Sean Jamieson was pulled down by goalkeeper Kyle Allison inside the penalty area, but Kelty hit back seven minutes before half-time.

Another corner, this time from Conrad Courts, created the opportunity as Brian Ritchie nodded the ball back across goal at the far post for Gary Leighton to head home and put Kelty back in front.

Husband cannoned a shot off the Musselburgh bar as the visitors looked for a killer third goal after the break, and in 57 minutes they got it.

Musselburgh were undone again from a set-piece as a free-kick was flicked on by Calum Smith for Cargill to slip the ball home and clinch a well-earned three points.

Courts said, "We're joint top of the league and when you take everything into consideration, I'm pleased. We're seeing teams setting up differently against us but we're adapting to the challenge, and after a difficult first half on Saturday we went from strength to strength. They're probably in a false position but there's a ruthlessness about this league and Musselburgh are finding that out. They've been a bit up and down so we used that to our advantage and produced a professional performance. We're sharing the goals around as well and ground out three points, so I'm content with how things are going just now.

"We are aware that we haven't achieved anything yet, but on our day we're a force to be reckoned with. We've got the Scottish Cup on Saturday and we're going into a bit of unknown territory, a bit like when we played Civil Service. But if we play to our potential and impose ourselves on them then I believe we can win. We had them watched against Girvan in the last round and I watched them last Wednesday, so our players will be well informed as we are keen to go as far as possible.

"In all my time at the club, Kelty have been renowned for doing well on the big occasion but we know this probably the only cup competition that we know we're not going to win. But someone said to Stefan Winiarski, one of my coaches, that we are only eight games away from Europe! It is exciting and it's great to feel that."

Courts added that captain Shaun Greig and Sean O'Neil could return to his squad for the tie.

Oakley United 0-3 Bathgate Thistle

Oakley United were unable to bounce back from last weekend's mauling at Lochee United as they were beaten by Bathgate Thistle at Blairwood Park.

Manager James Watt had branded that 11-0 thumping as a "disgrace" and demanded that his men "bring some pride back to the club" ahead of the game.

To their credit, Oakley produced a much better performance and an entertaining first half saw chances created and squandered at both ends, with the break of the ball not falling for the forwards.

But in the second period it was Bathgate who took control of proceedings as a double from Bryan Jaconelli and a strike from Gordon Harris - with two of those goals arriving in the final minute - saw off the home side, who ended the contest with just nine men.

Watt and his team must now regroup as they prepare to make a near 300 mile round-trip to face North Division One outfit Nairn St Ninian in the first round of the Junior Cup on Saturday.

Rosyth 2-0 Dunbar United

Boss Lee Richardson hailed the influence of golden oldie Mark McCulloch as Rosyth ended a run of four league straight defeats against Dunbar United on Saturday.

The South Division promotion hopefuls enjoyed a much-needed second win of the season thanks to goals either side of half-time from Tam Hampson and Kevin Goodwin as the East Lothian side ended the match with 10 men after defender Grant Thomson was sent off.

Richardson, who has completed loan deals for Berwick Rangers duo Charlie Denton and Scott Russell, also snapped up 40-year-old former Pars, Inverness and Ross County defender McCulloch and he helped his new team-mates to their second clean sheet of the season.

After Thomson saw red for a professional foul on 29 minutes, Hampson soon headed Rosyth ahead and Goodwin's strike from John McDiarmid's pass settled matters after the break, while Scott Morrison crashed a 40-yarder off the underside of the bar.

It was the ideal preparation for Saturday's Junior Cup trip to Bridge of Don Thistle and Richardson said, "I'm really chuffed although we had a bit of luck when they had a man sent off after half an hour. But I think we deserved a bit of luck as we probably played better in the last couple of weeks than we did on Saturday, but we defended much better and didn't make any individual mistakes. I signed Mark McCulloch, who is a veteran, but what a player - he was fantastic. He was pinging 60-yard passes to boys' feet and has tremendous experience to pass on. Paddy Murphy also had a great game against Sam Young, who is one of the best strikers in the league alongside Tam Hampson.

"We didn't play as well in the second half but I can't remember many chances that they had. The only bad thing was that our left back Ryan O'Connor got a bad knee injury; he's suffered medial ligament damage and will be out for eight weeks. I've got about six missing for Saturday so we're down to the bare bones, but as long as we take on what we did on Saturday then I'll be happy."

Pumpherston Juniors 5-4 Crossgates Primrose

Free-scoring Crossgates Primrose snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as a last-gasp goal saw them beaten in a nine-goal thriller at Pumpherston.

Gary Herkes' side were denied only a second South Division win of the season last weekend by a last minute equaliser by Kirkcaldy YM in an incredible 5-5 draw, and despite taking the lead three times in this match, it ended in more frustration for the Humbug Park men.

The visitors took an early lead before Sam Rae equalised, but Pumpherston weren't level for long as Primrose put themselves back in front from a corner.

Neil Shave levelled again just before half-time before a Chris Purvis lob put the home side ahead for the first time.

This end-to-end contest then saw Primrose level and grab a fourth goal, only for Rae to equalise yet again for Pumpherston, and just when it looked like ending all square, Purvis bundled home a dramatic winner in stoppage time.

Herkes and his players will be hoping for better fortune on Saturday when Lanark United visit in the Junior Cup.

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): William Hill Scottish Cup first round - Lothian Thistle v Kelty Hearts (3pm). Barr Scottish Junior Cup first round - Bridge of Don Thistle v Rosyth, Crossgates Primrose v Lanark United, Nairn St Ninian v Oakley United.