Published: Thursday, 26th February, 2009 4:05pm

Cup KO is wake-up call for Kelty

by Simon Harris

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KELTY HEARTS boss Stevie Leighton says his Super League leaders have been given a wake-up call after conceding five goals against Central League side St Andrews to crash out of the Fife & Lothians Cup.

The Jambos were beaten 5-2 at home in the shock of the round and it"s the second time this season Kelty have gone out of a big competition to a Central League side, having lost to Thornton in the Scottish Cup.

Leighton told Press Sport, 'I must admit I didn"t see that one coming. Maybe it"s a wake-up call at the right time.

'I thought it was complacency, especially at 2-2 when we had got ourselves back into the game.

"My assistant, Craig Smart, had seen it in training and had thought there was a complacent attitude among the players.

'When you"re top you can get complacent and your opponents raise their game and that"s a recipe for defeat as far as I am concerned.

'If you don"t get complacent you can be a goal up before you start and really put your mark on the game.'

Hearts face another banana skin this weekend when they are away to Jeanfield Swifts, again going well in the Central League, in the Fife & Tayside Cup.

Leighton said he would leave it late before finalising his team selection but stressed the cups were important for the club"s future.

'We just have to get the best result for the club as we are starting to go out of too many cups.

"Saturday was bad news for the committee as the further you go in that cup the more money you make,' he said.

Premier League Oakley also went out of the same competition to Central League opposition, going out 5-4 on penalties to Thornton Hibs after the match had been drawn 1-1.

Lee Celentano had given Oakley a first-half lead but Hibs hit back with a late leveller.

With St Andrews in cup action, Rosyth Recreation took the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Central League to four points, with a Clark Kay winner giving them an edgy 1-0 win over bottom-placed Luncarty, while Crossgates beat Jeanfield Swifts 3-0 thanks to a Peter Goodwin double and a goal from Ross Cowan.

Saturday"s fixtures: Redwood Leisure Cup, first round – Oakley United v Dundee East Craigie, Crossgates Primrose v Blairgowrie, Jeanfield Swifts v Kelty Hearts. East Central Bukta Teamwear.com League – Lochgelly Albert v Steelend Victoria, St Andrews United v Rosyth. Kick-offs 2.30pm.