Kelty Hearts 1 Linlithgow Rose 0

IT MAY have been one place below where they wanted to be but Kelty Hearts assured the Super League runners-up slot by beating Linlithgow Rose.

Only a win for the Jambos would seal second place behind champions Bonnyrigg Rose and ensure they pipped Linlithgow and, in a dramatic end to a rollercoaster season, player-manager Thomas Courts headed home the winning goal deep into injury time.

Although they lost their title to a Bonnyrigg side that Courts himself had hailed as having a “phenomenal” campaign, the 34-year-old believes his team will be ready to fight for the crown again when the new campaign kicks off in August.

He had hoped they would better last season’s points haul of 65 but a draw with Hill of Beath and a loss at Carnoustie in the final three weeks of the campaign cost them as they finished with 62.

They did at least end on a high note and, in the opening period, Archie Campbell was denied no less than three times by inspired Rose goalkeeper Michael McKinven as they tried to find the breakthrough.

Campbell’s duel with McKinven continued after the break when the former Morton man was played through on goal but the visitors’ number one was again equal to the task, racing from his line and diving low to turn the ball out for a corner.

However, Kelty’s chances were hampered when Campbell, attempting to win the ball on the touchline, became entangled with an opponent on the ground and stood on his back as he tried to free himself of the situation.

That produced what looked to be a very harsh red card but Kelty continued to press and as the clock ticked beyond 90 minutes, they got their reward.

After a spell of pinball in the Rose box from a corner, the ball was lobbed back towards the six-yard box and Courts reacted quickest to head home his first goal of the season.

He said: “We’ve just fallen short this season and that’s frustrating but we have to be mindful that Bonnyrigg Rose have had a phenomenal season. We only need three or four players and are not far away but it is very difficult to retain the Super League. When I got the job, the highest that Kelty has finished was fifth and now we’ve won it and then finished second.

“I’d like to thank the players, the committee, the supporters and the sponsors for their support during the season.”

Kelty have confirmed that young goalkeeper Kyle Marley has signed a new contract with the club but left-back Scott Gates is leaving Central Park after taking up the offer of a job in Sweden.

Easthouses Lily 1 Rosyth 3

ROSYTH boss Lee Richardson is looking towards next season after watching his side finish with a flourish on Saturday.

The Recreation Park outfit wrapped up their South Division campaign with a commanding victory over 10-man Easthouses Lily that clinched seventh place after an inconsistent campaign.

Rosyth fell a goal behind after only three minutes but it then became a tale of two penalties for Rosyth. They were awarded a spot kick when Tam Hampson was brought down inside the box by a last man challenge, leading to a red card for the offending Easthouses man, but John Duffy saw his 12-yard effort saved by the goalkeeper.

The reprieve for Easthouses, however, was short-lived when they conceded a second penalty, this time for a foul on John McDiarmid, and veteran defender Mark McCulloch rolled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

With a man advantage, the visitors began to assert their dominance and after skipper Dean Ogg put them in front, Lewis Hamill’s first goal of the season sealed the three points.

Richardson said: “I had a bit of a depleted team again – I was on the bench and so was one of my coaches. We went 1-0 down after three minutes and it was slack defending but after we scored it knocked the stuffing out of them and we played some really good football. I was quite chuffed with how we played but it has been a long season .”

Oakley United 1 Jeanfield Swifts 4

OAKLEY United’s miserable season ended last Wednesday when Jeanfield Swifts clinched the Premier League title.

The Blairwood Park side were already relegated and boss Craig Cowan took the opportunity to blood some younger players as he plans to build a squad capable of bouncing straight back up next season.

The West Fifers found themselves 3-0 down at half-time thanks to goals from Chris Dodd, Chris McLeish and Tony Holt and, although they pulled a goal back after the break, Stevie McManus’ late fourth was the final act in a dismal campaign.

They finished bottom of the pile on just 25 points, registering just six wins from 30 league games, and Cowan said: “We have to move on next year and I have already started rebuilding. If we go with youth and some experienced boys to help them along then I think we can be successful and I think there are good enough players in the amateur and youth leagues to bring us back up.

“If it doesn’t work then I’ll only have myself to blame.”