KELTY HEARTS progressed in the East of Scotland Cup last weekend but it was a losing start for Oakley United's new boss.

Bathgate Thistle 0 Kelty Hearts 4

KELTY HEARTS cruised through to the next round of the East of Scotland Cup.

Player-boss Thomas Courts described it as “one of the most dominant performances” he had been involved in after a Stuart Cargill hat-trick and one from Sean O’Neil assured the club their passage.

Kelty travel to Keir’s Park on Saturday for a league derby with Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Courts said: “It was one of the most dominant performances I’ve been involved in in junior football.

“They had a little spell just after half time but with the possession we had, our quality on the ball and the chances we created, we were totally in control.

“Once we got ahead and then scored the second, I felt there was no coming back from that.

“Stephen Husband, Shaun Greig, Craig Thomson and Neil McCabe in midfield were a joy to play with and we were just too strong on the day.”

Regarding the weekend’s fixture, Courts added: “They (Hill of Beath) have started really well but we are going there with the ambition of leaving with all three points.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we’re using the squad in our matches.

“We’ll work in training on our gameplan for the clash and I hope we can leave with our 100 per cent record still intact.”

Oakley United 2 Brechin Vics 3

NEW Oakley United manager Lee Richardson admitted the call to return to Blairwood Park came out of the blue.

The former Rosyth boss was lured back to the club he enjoyed a productive four-year spell with previously as assistant to current Dundonald Bluebell boss Stevie Kay.

Richardson left Recreation Park in the summer to join his long-time friend at Super League Bluebell but, after Oakley parted company with Craig Cowan last Monday, they moved quickly to appoint their new manager.

Richardson said: “It came out of the blue really and I had a wee think about it.

“Stevie encouraged me. We had a conversation and he said I’d be daft not to go.

“We’ve been at Oakley before so I knew how well run the club is and it would maybe have been different if it was a club I didn’t know.

“We were there for four years and took over a similar situation.

“They had not won for nine games and we turned it around.

“I know this league but we need players, especially a couple of experienced boys.”

Along with Rennie, Richardson has secured the services of three more, including Rosyth’s Kevin Goodwin, and he added: “I’m hoping to get a couple of boys in on loan and the committee have said that they will back me.

“We’re working on the shape and making us hard to beat. Over the next two or three weeks, I’ll be looking at boys in games and training, so it’s up to them to impress me.

“They’re a good bunch who want to learn and have taken everything we’ve told them on board, so I’ve no complaints that way.”

His reign began with an East of Scotland Cup exit at home to Brechin Vics on Saturday, despite a stirring finish having gone three goals down.

Lee Celentano from the spot and a free-kick from debutant Ross Rennie pulled Oakley back into contention but they couldn’t find a leveller.

Rosyth 0 Kirriemuir Thistle 1

ROSYTH suffered last-gasp heartbreak as North Division Kirriemuir Thistle edged through in the East of Scotland Cup.

Co-manager Kevin Smith had called on his men to bounce back from their six-goal thrashing by Pumpherston last time out but progress in the cup was not to be, thanks to Stewart Russell’s last-minute header from Ryan Strachan’s cross.

After a drab opening 45 minutes, Rosyth were unlucky not to take the lead when John Duffy’s well-struck effort was inches wide while Mark McCulloch went close with a free-kick.

Michael MacMillan was denied by Kirrie goalkeeper Sean Diamond and, with Rosyth well on top, John McDiarmid was unable to direct the ball towards goal after Ciaran Chalmers headed it across the box.

With penalties looming, Russell rose to meet Strachan’s cross to send the visitors through and break Rosyth hearts.

Saturday’s fixtures (kick-off 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Hill of Beath Hawthorn v Kelty Hearts. McBookie.com South Division – Craigroyston v Oakley United, Edinburgh United v Crossgates Primrose, Rosyth v Lochgelly Albert.