Published: Thursday, 19th March, 2009 1:13pm

Super League title dreams begin to fade for Jambos

by Graham Gibson

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GAMES are running out fast for Kelty Hearts after a home draw with bottom of the league Bathgate Thistle severely dented their title hopes.

Kelty have four out of their last six matches at home and maximum points from every one is essential if they are to have any hope of winning the Super League.

On Saturday Hearts opened the scoring through John Martin after 22 minutes, yet barely six minutes later the sides were level when Bathgate equalised from a corner.

Despite chances at both ends neither side were able to claim the winner and Kelty gaffer Stevie Leighton admitted the end result was fair on both teams.

He said, 'It was one of those typical junior games that lacked a wee bit of cutting edge.'

Despite only winning six out of 16 games Kelty remain in the chasing pack at the top of the table and boss Leighton believes there could still be a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season.

'We"ve never been speaking about winning the Super League but everyone is cutting each other"s throats so there might be a wee opportunity,' he said.

'We are starting to run out of games and this week is massive as we are at home to Bo"ness who have shaded us twice.

'The league could end up going two ways this season. It could be the lowest points accumulated that has won the league as well as probably the most points getting relegated. It has just been that kind of season.'

After a free week Oakley United travel to Arniston Rangers knowing that anything less than maximum points could spell disaster in their battle to avoid relegation.

Manager Stevie Kay admitted last weekend"s results, which saw both Dundonald Bluebell and Dundee North End leapfrog them in the table, came as a complete shock.

He said, 'I never saw last weekend"s results coming a mile away but now they have both overtaken us. I think we need to win a minimum of four out of our six games left.

'The last four or five weeks we are totally dominating teams and can"t put them away. We just need to keep going. The teams around us have still to play one another and have a harder run in than us so there is still time and something has to give.'

Elsewhere Rosyth had a free weekend while Steelend went down 3-0 at Bankfoot Athletic and Crossgates lost 1-0 away to Newburgh.

Saturday"s fixtures: East Super Bukta Teamwear.com League – Kelty Hearts v Bo"ness Utd. East Premier Bukta Teamwear.com League – Arni-ston Rangers v Oakley United. East Central Bukta Teamwear.com League – Thornton Hibs v Rosyth, Scone Thistle v Crossgates Primrose.