Kelty Hearts 5 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 0, ETHX Scottish Junior Cup fourth round

THRILLED Thomas Courts paid tribute to his players for producing a "dream" performance to blow away Hill of Beath Hawthorn on Saturday.

The Kingdom's eagerly awaited 'Clasico' between Kelty Hearts and their great rivals turned into a memorable demolition derby as the Jambos produced a "whirlwind" first half performance to seal their progression in the Junior Cup.

Local boy Stephen Husband's double and strikes from Murray Carstairs and Sean O'Neil had the hosts four goals to the good at half-time before Archie Campbell put the icing on the cake late on.

It means Kelty remain unbeaten in all competitions this season and march on into the last 16 draw on Tuesday afternoon, while the wait for another final appearance goes on for 1990 winners Haws.

Courts told Press Sport: "To be 4-0 up at half-time was a dream and I thought that the players handled it magnificently. The first half would probably be best described as a whirlwind; apart from the first five minutes, we grew into the game and once we got the second goal, I could see from their body language that it was a long way back for them.

"When we got our noses in front I sensed it would be a special day and the players realised they had everyone backing them. It is probably the biggest roar I've heard at Kelty and the players understood what was at stake in terms of bragging rights for the fans and a place in the last 16.

"My last message to the players was that to go out to our close rivals would be painful, but then seeing the draw would be a sore one for us.

"We are excited by the Scottish Cup. It is seen as the holy grail in junior football and we have to treat it that way."

Fog may have descended on New Central Park but that didn't stop the attendance of a bumper 936 crowd, and there was no gloom for those backing the home team.

Although the Haws started brightly, with both Greg Smith and Calum Adamson going close, they fell behind in the 22nd minute.

Husband started the move, picking the ball up at the edge of the box and playing a one-two with Brian Ritchie, before moving into the box and finding Stuart Cargill.

He returned the ball to the former Pars midfielder and he slotted beyond Stuart Hall from around 12 yards.

The same player doubled Kelty's advantage just four minutes later, rifling home unmarked at the far post, before Carstairs rose highest to head home a corner just after the half hour mark.

The tie was put beyond the visitors five minutes from the break when O'Neil nodded in another set-piece from close range and, while Haws kept the score down in the second period, substitute Campbell's cross fortuitously hit the net via the post to seal an emphatic victory.

Courts was quick to praise Kelty-born Husband, commenting: "Stephen only trained once in a 14 day period and it was a last minute decision whether to include him. He gives us good balance in midfield, composure and quality on the ball, and is our top goalscorer. We give him a licence to venture forward more and, when chances fall in and around the box, you want someone of his quality there.

"It would be massive for the club (to reach the latter stages) as we've been to the final twice before. The boys are hungry for success but there are 15 other good teams there as well. We'll hope for a home tie but, if you want to win these competitions, you're going to have to play big teams and go to difficult venues.

"We're looking to build momentum and I think we created that feeling on Saturday, but it is only one game."

Dejected Haws boss Bobby Wilson admitted: "Kelty fully deserved their convincing win.

"We opened the game reasonably well but the first two goals should have been avoided, and then to lose two to set pieces was not at all good from our point of view."