Kelty Hearts 1 Linlithgow Rose 0 KELTY HEARTS boss Thomas Courts hailed his players for passing Saturday’s vital title test with Linlithgow “with flying colours”.

January signing Paul Currie netted the second half winner to open up a 14-point gap over Rose – who have four games in hand – while second- and third-placed Bo’ness United and Newtongrange Star are just a point better off.

But with another home clash to come this weekend with mid-table Broxburn Athletic Courts has urged his men to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

He told Press Sport, “I’m really pleased for the players because they have been mindful of the fact they have been outstanding this season but are getting to the stage where they know that they have to win some important games. I said in my programme notes that maybe Linlithgow were slight favourites because they’ve been over the course before and it was a major test for us but they proved to themselves they are a match for anyone.

“It was a major milestone for us but it won’t mean anything if we don’t beat Broxburn on Saturday. The gap at the top can never be big enough and we don’t want our club getting into a false sense of security. If someone like Newtongrange go on a run then it becomes obsolete. Leagues are not won by doing maths but out on the pitch and although it’s new territory for us, we have clear aspirations to stay on top for as long as we can.” As the afternoon wore on Kelty began to create more opportunities and the winning goal arrived when Brian Ritchie charged down a clearance which fell kindly for Currie to drill the ball home from close range.

“It was a typical Linlithgow and Kelty game,” Courts added. “We knew we would get stronger in the latter part of the game and that’s when we scored our goal. We know we are hard to break down and our new signings are contributing with goals, but the big games take care of themselves. Where we’ve let ourselves down in recent seasons is against the other clubs which is why Saturday’s game is of monumental importance.” Oakley United 3 Bathgate Thistle 1 OAKLEY UNITED bounced back from two successive defeats to get the better of Bathgate Thistle in the Premier League.

Andy Watt’s hat-trick handed James Watt’s side their ninth win of the season to move into fourth place, just three points adrift of leaders St Andrews United and second-placed Montrose Roselea.

But having played more games than anyone else in the league, the Blairwood Park men’s position in the chase for promotion could soon be under threat as they have just nine matches remaining.

The home boss had called for a reaction to their defeat to Jeanfield last time out and he got the response he was looking for when Watt fired United ahead in the first half, only for the visitors to level before the break.

But Watt restored Oakley’s lead on 70 minutes with a header before he sealed their victory with a fine solo effort late on.

Rosyth 6 Haddington Athletic 0 LEE RICHARDSON declared himself “over the moon” after Rosyth hit South Division leaders Haddington for six at Recreation Park.

A stunning performance from the home side saw Tam Hampson and Scott Gilfillan hit doubles and Michael McMillan and Jason Penman also hit the target against the 10-man visitors, who had captain Chris Gray sent off during a wretched opening half an hour that saw them fall three goals behind.

Penman got the ball rolling by curling home an excellent free kick after just eight minutes and just 60 seconds later Hampson pounced on a poor back pass to fire home from an acute angle.

It was 3-0 after 20 minutes when Gilfillan embarked on a mazy run to score and Haddington’s day went from bad to worse when Gray lost the plot after grappling with both John McDiarmid and Hampson.

McMillan added the fourth just after the hour after converting a Hampson pull back and on 65 minutes it was five when Gilfillan cracked in a volley from the edge of the box.

Hampson completed the scoring four minutes later with a fine solo goal and Richardson said, “It was probably our best performance of the season. We were brilliant to watch as we never gave them a minute; our fitness, passing and harrying was fantastic. I’n absolutely ecstatic and Haddington to be fair were very gracious in defeat and had some kind words for us.

“We were all on cloud nine on Saturday but we’re not getting carried away. We’ve got a massive game on Saturday against Falkirk and we need to play with the same attitude against them. They’re not far behind us and a win would put us above Whitburn. After Saturday’s game everyone will be looking at us but my team are all young lads so to see them play like that was brilliant.” The result moves third-placed Rosyth six points behind Haddington and three behind Whitburn in second, each of whom have played two more games than Richardson’s men.

Harthill Royal 3 Crossgates Primrose 0 PRIMROSE boss David McNeely had few complaints after his side lost for the seventh time on the road this season at Harthill.

The struggling visitors had no answer to the West Lothian side as a depleted squad remain rooted to the foot of the table with just one win from their 17 matches so far.

Crossgates are facing a bigger fight off the pitch than on it but McNeely said, “We were struggling for numbers as we had a few late call-offs but we had chances and didn’t take them. We gave them two goals and it was one of those days, which seems to be every week just now. Their heads are down but we are where we are – I’ve told them that nobody will give you anything for nothing.

“There wasn’t much fight from them but we’ll keep going.” Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): McBookie.com Super League – Kelty Hearts v Broxburn Athletic. McBookie.com Premier League – Arniston Rangers v Oakley United. McBookie.com South Division – Blackburn United v Crossgates Primrose, Falkirk JFC V Rosyth.