Kelty Hearts 1 Tayport 2

KELTY HEARTS boss Thomas Courts has conceded his team’s chances of retaining their Super League crown are all but over after Saturday’s shock defeat to Tayport.

The relegation battlers stunned the champions at Central Park by fighting back from Stuart Cargill’s opener to inflict only a third home loss on the Jambos – and leave Courts downbeat over the possibility of catching leaders Bonnyrigg Rose.

Their prospects looked much brighter when Cargill – the goalscoring catalyst for last season’s championship success – netted a spectacular overhead kick to give Kelty a deserved lead on the hour mark and set them on course for a vital three points.

But with 15 minutes left, the day began to unravel for the home side. Alan Tulleth equalised from close range and just six minutes later, he turned provider by crossing for Gary Sutherland to crash home the winner.

Defeat leaves Kelty 11 points behind Bonnyrigg, who have played a game more, but with just seven matches remaining Courts believes that only a “capitulation” from their rivals would give his team a chance of winning a second successive title.

He told Press Sport: “We controlled large parts of the game and had a team out there who were more than capable of winning. There was a lot to like about the performance and we had more than enough chances, so there is no question mark over the players’ commitment or professionalism. It was a disappointment because I didn’t sense a momentum there that you need going in to the final eight games. We were always focused on being in the mix going into those, but Saturday has put a bit of a spanner in the works.

“The profile of player we have has been a bit different this year and this year has been a challenge for us as a club, with the new pitch and playing our first 10 games away from home. There’s never a moment at Kelty where we’re not talking about football or how to move forward, so even before Saturday we’ve been looking at budgets and signing targets.

“I have to look at the profile of the players and team and get a happy medium to keep the club up where it belongs because we’ve had four or five off days this year.”

Courts added: “If you’re not at it in the Super League, the chances are that you’ll get turned over and the quality has definitely improved from last year. A couple of things didn’t go for us, but you have to give Bonnyrigg credit because they’re putting some championship form together. We’ve got a target to win more points than we did last year, which is still achievable, but I’m a bit despondent because I want us to be in contention for titles right up until the last minute.

“It is slipping away from us, but it’s about handling that disappointment. We’re in the semi-finals of the Fife and Lothians Cup and we’ll continue to be professional and try to win as many points as we can and see where it takes us. We have to look to bounce back on Saturday.”

Oakley United 0 Thornton Hibs 2

OAKLEY UNITED were dealt another blow in their bid to avoid Premier League relegation as bottom side Thornton Hibs took all three points at Blairwood Park.

Defeat against the team immediately below them, who had not won on league business since September, leaves the West Fifers in an increasingly difficult position with just six games left.

Lea Schiavone gave the visitors the lead in 27 minutes with a clever finish and Oakley’s task became even more difficult when Chris Ireland ran unchallenged towards goal before sliding the ball under helpless goalkeeper Ryan Adamson.

Watt’s team refused to throw in the towel and Mike Fleming’s fierce shot looked to have crossed the line after striking the underside of the bar but the referee did not award the goal.

A bad day for Oakley was capped by a red card shown to Reece Fraser for dissent two minutes from time and, although they are just four points from safety, games in hand for some of their relegation rivals could prove crucial in the fight stay up.

Rosyth 2 Whitburn Juniors 2

LEE RICHARDSON is hopeful top scorer Tam Hampson will be fit for this weekend’s Fife and Lothians Cup tie at Penicuik after he suffered an injury blow on Saturday.

Rosyth’s star striker had put his team in the lead, soon doubled by John McDiarmid’s clever dinked finish, against the promotion-chasers, but a late challenge forced him out of the action before half-time with a leg injury. The substitution of Hampson saw a change in momentum in the away side’s favour as James Martin pulled one back before the interval and, despite the goalscorer being sent off on the hour, Jordan Bain fired home the equaliser two minutes later to complete the fightback.

Rosyth travel to the Super League outfit this Saturday for a quarter-final place and Richardson said: “The game turned on Tam getting injured because after he went off we just didn’t click like we had been. The boy came through the back of him, but I hope it’s just a knock like a dead leg.

“We started really well and had a chance to go 3-0 up, but as we were making the change, they scored. Our goalkeeper, Ross Wortley, made a couple a couple of good saves but in the second half we just didn’t come out for some reason.

“We’re looking forward to going to Penicuik because there’s no pressure on us; the players should go and enjoy it.”

Tomorrow’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): Fife and Lothians Cup fourth round – Penicuik Athletic v Rosyth. McBookie.com Super League – St Andrews United v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com Premier League – Kennoway Star Hearts v Oakley United.