KELTY HEARTS have been rewarded for Saturday's home victory over Buckie Thistle with a tie against League One opposition in the Scottish Cup third round.
Kevin Thomson's team have reached that stage of the competition for the first time thanks to a 4-1 success over the Highland League side, and they will now welcome League One Montrose to New Central Park next month.
Kelty were joined in the draw by Dunfermline, who will go to Partick Thistle, having drawn with them on league business on Saturday.
This afternoon’s 4-1 win means we are in the draw for the Third Round of the Scottish Cup for the very first time! pic.twitter.com/eXDFKDhhCW
— Kelty Hearts Football Club (@KeltyHeartsFC) October 23, 2021
A crowd of 608 were in attendance at New Central Park to see if League Two leaders Kelty could progress to round three for the first time, and a first goal in maroon from defender Thomas O'Ware, heading in Joe Cardle's cross, set them on their way.
Cardle quickly slotted home a second goal for the hosts before the break, before his deflected shot made it 3-0 inside the final 20 minutes.
Although Sam Urquhart pulled a goal back for Buckie, Ross Philp's late effort completed a fine day's work for Kelty, although they lost midfielder Jamie Barjonas to a wrist injury, which requires an operation.
😔💔JAMIE BARJONAS | A horrible outcome from todays win with @jbarjonas_ having to have an operation on his wrist injury
— Kelty Hearts Football Club (@KeltyHeartsFC) October 23, 2021
The fans favourite has been nothing short of magnificent since joining, a huge blow for the boy and the club
We all wish, our man Barjo a speedy recovery ❤️ pic.twitter.com/N1yDoe2gao
Post-match, Thomson noted: "I'm delighted to be in the next round of the cup.
"I thought Buckie acquitted themselves really well, made it difficult for us, and we tried to start sharp. We picked an attacking team to try and take the game to them, being at home.
"We changed the shape slightly and it never worked for us, so we reverted back to what we know. I'm not so sure it helped; I thought we were really careless in possession, never looked after the ball, and I thought the energy, we lacked a wee bit of a spark.
"But we're in the next round. It's hard for me as a manager to always be disappointed if everything's not perfect; I think the players can sense that a wee bit, so I'm not a bawler and shouter. Everybody knows I've got a wee nasty streak and an angry bit in me, and I was really disappointed with them at half-time.
"I'm not so sure we got any better in the second half. We scored good goals but, overall, we were a wee bit short of the standards that we would expect, but at the same time, delighted to be in the next round of the cup."
HIGHLIGHTS | @KeltyHeartsFC 4-1 @BuckieThistle #ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/6ByhMEaFLT
— Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) October 24, 2021
Dunfermline, meanwhile, and their fellow Championship teams enter the tournament at this stage and theirs is one of two all-Championship ties.
After a scoreless draw at Thistle in the league, they will return to Maryhill for a third time this season - having won a Premier Sports Cup group match there in July - looking to win a Scottish Cup tie for the first time since a 4-1 third round at Queen's Park in November 2017.
The ties will be played over the weekend of November 27.
The full draw for the 2021-22 Scottish Cup Third Round, with fixtures to be played over the weekend of Saturday, 27 November.
— Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) October 24, 2021
Which game gets your pick for tie of the round?#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/dC5J7z8eHV
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