Hearts beat as Kelty floor champions

KELTY HEARTS fired a warning to their Super League rivals as they earned a superb opening day win at champions Bonnyrigg Rose.

Neil 'Cabey' McCabe's stunning half volley, Stephen Husband's exquisite free-kick and Brian Ritchie's close-range finish had Thomas Courts' side 3-0 up inside 40 incredible minutes at Newbyres Park.

Although Ruaridh Donaldson pulled one back for the shell-shocked hosts before the break, Stuart Cargill added a fourth to seal the three points before Bonnyrigg's Adam Nelson added a modicum of respectability to the scoreline.

The emphatic nature of Saturday's victory at a side they failed to beat last season will leave the top flight big guns in no doubt that Courts and his men mean business as they look to regain the title, and the match was just six minutes old when Kelty made a flying start.

Courts' free-kick into the box was cleared out to Shaun Greig, whose return ball was headed out into the path of McCabe, who let rip with a terrific shot from 25 yards that flew into the top corner of the net for his first league goal since returning from East Stirlingshire in the close season.

A good start for Kelty got even better just three minutes later when, after Husband was felled outside the area, the former Pars midfielder stepped up to curl an expert set-piece beyond the reach of despairing goalkeeper Michael Andrews.

The 2015 title winners were had a firm grip on proceedings and the game looked all but over five minutes before the interval as they added a third goal.

Husband was again at the heart of it, spreading the ball wide for Craig Thomson, whose cross was flicked on by Ritchie for Neil 'Nelly' McCabe to square for Cargill. Although his effort was blocked, it fell kindly for Ritchie who was left with the simple task of stroking the ball into the net.

Donaldson's strike from the edge of the area brought Rose briefly back into contention but Cargill's fizzing first time shot into the top corner from inside the box nine minutes after half-time sealed the game for the visitors.

Nelson's neat finish after Kyle Allison had parried Wayne McIntosh's shot completed the scoring but Courts, speaking ahead of last night's clash with Dundonald Bluebell, said: "They're a really good side but we made a terrific start that eased us into the game and allowed us to express ourselves. When we made it 3-0 it was almost like dreamland but we knew we had a good pre-season behind us, whereas on the other hand Bonnyrigg's had been disrupted with friendlies being called off and things. We had an opportunity to strike hard and early and it was a really good game to play in.

"We played some really good football and showed a lot of composure. There's always a bit of apprehension about the first game but it's almost validation over the fact we only made three signings compared to six last summer.

"There was a lot of maturity and hunger all over the pitch and, although it is just three points and I'm not going to make any rash predictions, I am content with where we are just now."

Oakley United 1 Rosyth 4

ROSYTH took the home the derby bragging rights and got their South Division campaign off to a flier with a crushing win at Oakley United.

Co-managers Kevin Smith and Barry Cockburn started their tenure in fine style as Tam Hampson's double and strikes from John Duffy and John McDiarmid saw off Craig Cowan's side at Blairwood Park.

After taking over from Lee Richardson, who departed Recreation Park for Super League Dundonald Bluebell in the summer, Smith and Cockburn were enthused by the response from their players in pre-season and this performance suggests that they could be dark horses in the promotion race.

For Oakley, who are adjusting to life in the South Division following relegation from the Premier Division, the defeat was described by boss Craig Cowan as "very disappointing" but he has vowed his newly-built side will improve in the weeks ahead.

After an even opening to the contest, Rosyth drew first blood in the 18th minute through Duffy but Oakley immediately hit back through Cameron Smith.

Hampson, who has been attracting interest from a number of clubs, regained the initiative for the visitors before half-time when his deflected shot found its way into the net and, with 12 minutes left, he grabbed his second to seal the points.

McDiarmid added some additional gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages and a delighted Smith said: "It is a great start. The game was end-to-end in the first 20 minutes and was a bit bitty, and it was a bit backs to the wall for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Once we got the third goal it allowed us to see the game out and we could've had more goals; we had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside that the boys were adamant was onside, and Tam hit the inside the post.

"In the friendlies we've played we've always created chances and we've made a bit of a statement. They're on the the league favourites and it was maybe a good time to play them as I think they'll get better, but we want to build some momentum now.

"Nobody thought we'd go to Oakley and win 4-1 but last year we beat Lochgelly in the first game then lost the next four. We'll get back in training and our focus will all be about Craigroyston on Saturday."

His counterpart Cowan commented: "I was very disappointed with the boys performance and we got what we deserved. Rosyth were first to every ball and played to their strengths, but we weren't at the races. There was maybe a 20-25 minute spell where we were ok, but we made it easy for them. I went out to try and win the game with a 3-4-3 so a lot of the blame has to lie at my feet; in pre-season we were quite tight and we didn't look like conceding, so it's all about learning.

"We've got a good squad a lot of it is to do with the way I set them up. We lost a silly first goal but equalised two minutes at the back of that, but then Hampson scores a deflected shot. The deflection is a bit unlucky but we should've closed the ball down quicker. He had too much time to set himself and get the shot away.

"Take nothing away from Rosyth but we weren't at the races. We won't get beat that way again this season though; we will get there."

Crossgates Primrose 1 Blackburn United 3

THERE was to be no fairytale return for Crossgates Primrose as they went down to Blackburn United in their South Division opener.

After being placed in abeyance by the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) in November after withdrawing from the league, a rejuvenated Primrose brought competitive football back to Humbug Park but the visiting promotion favourites proved too strong.

New boss Andy Brown has assembled a largely young side for the campaign but, despite making a bright start, they fell behind in the 18th minute when Ross Mitchell nodded Danny Campbell's corner into the path of James Mildren, who buried his shot beyond goalkeeper Robert Wilson.

Scott Devaney almost brought the hosts level with a half-volley that finished just wide of target, while Liam Forbes also came close before the break as he forced Darren Mitchell into a fine one-handed save.

However five minutes after half-time, Blackburn struck again and it came from the penalty spot after Liam McComish fouled Chris Marshall, leaving Martin Lawrie to blast the ball past Wilson from 12 yards.

The visitors soon made it 3-0 thanks to Andy McQuillan's cool finish but with eight minutes to go, Crossgates grabbed a goal when Forbes broke free on the left to squeeze a shot under goalkeeper Mitchell.

The game ended on a sour note for Primrose as Devaney was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ewan Herriot but they will view this weekend's visit to Stoneyburn as an opportunity to put their first points of the season on the board.

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League - Kelty Hearts v Musselburgh Athletic. McBookie.com South Division - Blackburn United v Oakley United, Rosyth v Craigroyston, Stoneyburn v Crossgates Primrose.