KELTY HEARTS must win their final game of the season on Saturday to be assured of second place in the Super League as Oakley and Rosyth's seasons come to a close.

The Jambos drew 1-1 at home to Hill of Beath Hawthorn on Saturday (see below) but, in their penultimate fixture last night, lost 3-1 at Carnoustie Panmure.

Mike McIlravey smashed the Gowfers into the lead after 11 minutes and they doubled their advantage just 15 minutes later when Jamie McCabe headed home McIlravey's corner.

Sean Greig pulled a goal back for Thomas Courts' side on 65 minutes but, with 10 minutes to go, McCabe netted his second to seal Carnoustie's victory.

Meanwhile Oakley United, who were routed 6-0 by Dundonald Bluebell last Wednesday (below) lost their final game to Jeanfield Swifts last night in the Premier League.

Craig Cowan's team, already relegated, found themselves three goals down at half-time thanks to Chris Dodd, Chris McLeish and Tony Holt and, although they pulled a goal back, Stevie McManus' late fourth secured victory for Jeanfield and the championship.

Kelty Hearts 1 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 1

THOMAS Courts admits he has been frustrated by Kelty Hearts’ end to the campaign but says he is already planning for next season.

The Central Park player-boss saw his side pegged back by Hill of Beath Hawthorn in a keenly-contested Super League derby on Saturday after being knocked out of the Fife and Lothians Cup semi-final last Wednesday.

That loss to Penicuik Athletic ended any hopes Kelty had of lifting silverware after they lost their league crown to Bonnyrigg Rose but Courts believes his side can challenge for the junior game’s big prizes again next season.

He has, though, identified areas where his team need to improve, including in front of goal as while Brian Ritchie gave them a 17th-minute lead in the derby, they failed to build on that advantage and take the game away from the Haws.

The visitors hit back early in the second half through Scott McCrindle to ensure a share of the spoils and Courts said: “Saturday was similar to how our season has gone; we played a lot of really good stuff, were in the ascendancy for the majority of the game, there were a lot of chances being made, the woodwork was hit and the goalkeeper made saves.

“But we weren’t clinical enough and there seems to be a bit of a softer underbelly to us this season.

“If you watch Kelty Hearts this season you’ll see us have 60-70 per cent possession, play good football and create chances, but for the amount of chances we create, we don’t score enough goals. We’ve not had that talisman or scored enough from all over the pitch this season.”

He added: “We have to judge ourselves on our own standards and the players we brought in in the summer were capable of challenging for silverware. It can take a while for players to adjust to the rigours of junior football and understand it but they’ll come back next year.

“We’re not too far away and I think we only need three or four players but players who understand the junior game. I’m positive that we will have another good season next year but we have to be ready because the league will be harder.

“But I am at a club where I am backed 100 per cent, have a good budget and are ambitious.”

Kelty can still finish second and conclude their season at home to Linlithgow Rose on Saturday, who were a point ahead of the Jambos going into the midweek fixtures.

Oakley United 0 Dundonald Bluebell 6

OAKLEY United boss Craig Cowan is targeting an immediate Premier League return after their relegation was confirmed on Saturday.

The Blairwood Park side needed to beat promoted Dundonald Bluebell last Wednesday and Jeanfield Swifts last night while hoping Armadale, occupants of the final safety spot, were beaten by Thornton Hibs.

A 6-0 thumping by Bluebell, however, all but relegated Oakley and their fate was officially sealed on Saturday when Armadale secured their place in the Premier League for next season with a 4-1 win over Thornton, leaving Cowan with a rebuilding job after he agreed to take the reins beyond the summer.

Since taking over from James Watt last month, he has yet to taste victory and Cowan admitted the gulf between his side and Dundonald was “pretty obvious”.

A hat-trick from Scott Lawrie and strikes from Calum Young, Derek Wallace and Gregg Meikle blew United away and Cowan said: “It is extremely disappointing but it’s not just been because of the last six games. We’ve got a goal difference of -36 and I think that says it all. The writing is on the wall with that and we were 3-0 down in the first 15 minutes against Dundonald; the gulf was pretty obvious.

“Four of the team though were under 20 and I gave some young boys a run because I felt we needed a wee bit of energy.

“The committee have asked me to stay on and I want to rebuild with youth and a couple of experienced guys in beside them.

“I think we can be successful next season and we’ll be trying to bounce straight back. That’s the aim.”

Cowan, who said 12 of his squad have committed to the club for next term, added: “I’ve got a couple of boys in the pipeline and I am looking at amateur and youth players.

“The club have told me that if I want to buy players, there is money available but I think there are good enough players in the amateur and youth ranks to bring us back up without having to splash the cash.”

West Calder United 0 Rosyth 0

ROSYTH go into the final South Division game of the season with the chance of finishing seventh after drawing a blank at West Calder United.

Lee Richardson’s side have endured a frustrating campaign as they failed to hit the heights of their promotion bid of last season but they did manage just their fifth shut-out at Hermand Park.

The point moved the Recreation Park team above Kirkcaldy YM and a victory at Easthouses Lily this weekend will see them leapfrog their opponents and finish seventh as Richardson hopes for a more consistent campaign when the new season kicks off in August.

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Kelty Hearts v Linlithgow Rose. McBookie.com South Division – Easthouses Lily v Rosyth.