GeoSonic Lowland League:

East Kilbride 4

Kelty Hearts 0

KELTY HEARTS’ hopes of finishing as Lowland League runners-up were severely dented after they suffered a heavy defeat to the champions on Saturday.

Barry Ferguson’s men were East Kilbride’s first opponents since they wrapped up the title at home to Spartans last Tuesday but they couldn’t dampen the party mood as they were beaten convincingly.

Ex-Par Graeme Holmes came close with a dipping effort early on for the hosts, who went ahead in the 19th minute thanks to Cammy Russell’s fine drive from the edge of the box after a neat one-two with Jamie Longworth.

East Kilbride doubled their lead six minutes before the break when, after Russell’s corner was cleared only as far as Longworth at the edge of the box, the ball was returned to him on the right and his wicked cross-cum-shot sailed beyond the visiting defence and goalkeeper and into the net.

Russell and Longworth were both denied before half-time as the hosts chased a third, which duly arrived in the 73rd minute when Longworth, after being denied initially by a smart stop by Scott Christie, scrambled home the rebound at a corner.

Kelty’s misery was completed two minutes later when Russell was sent through on goal before sending a cool finish beyond the reach of Christie from 18 yards.

Defeat for Ferguson’s team, who saw off Cumbernauld Colts 1-0 last Wednesday, leaves them third in the table on 51 points, just two ahead of Saturday’s opponents, Civil Service Strollers.

They are one point behind second-placed BSC Glasgow, who have two games in hand.

Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Conference C:

Inverkeithing H Swifts 2

Heriot-Watt University 4

A BUMPER crowd of 301 saw Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts almost complete an unlikely comeback in their final home game of the season.

Lee Duffy’s men, who will conclude their maiden season as a senior club at former junior giants Linlithgow Rose this weekend, played their part in an entertaining game against Heriot-Watt University at a sun-drenched Ballast Bank – but were left with no points to show for their efforts.

The visitors moved into a two-goal lead at the interval thanks to goals from Lumbert Kateleza and Neil Laurenson, before adding a third just after half-time through Calvin Muttitt.

Even though they were reduced to 10 men, Swifts refused to give up and goals from Ryan Cowie, and man-of-the-match Ryan O’Connor, within a three-minute spell gave them hope of completing a fine recovery.

But, after conceding a penalty that was converted by Arron Singh, the game was up for the hosts, who lost two further players to red cards in the game’s latter stages.

The result leaves Inverkeithing third-bottom of the Conference C table.

McBookie.com Premier League South:

Stoneyburn 2 Rosyth 0

ROSYTH gaffer Brian Muirhead said his players “let themselves down” after they fell to a disappointing defeat at Stoneyburn.

After a narrow loss to Super League Fauldhouse in the quarter-finals of the Fife and Lothians Cup last week, the visitors were aiming to resurrect their push for a top-half finish but were, instead, leapfrogged by their opponents.

David Hendry gave the West Lothian side a 38th minute lead and, after Kieran Sweeney doubled the advantage two minutes from the break, it left the Rec with an uphill task.

Despite a brighter second-half showing, they couldn’t recover and Muirhead said: “In the first 10 minutes we looked good, but then the energy levels and commitment died. When you go there, you need hard work, to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. They’re workmanlike but they outworked us from 15 minutes in until the end of the half.

“We were outrun, outfought and they scored two goals from that alone. We should’ve been three down at half-time – my goalkeeper saved a penalty – and they’ve been told in no uncertain terms that they let themselves down. Second half, we came out and had half a dozen chances, but we never really looked like scoring. We got what we deserved.

“The run-in is massive for us. We wanted to win this game to push as high up the table as we can but we’ve left ourselves with a mountain to climb. I’ve thrown the gauntlet down – we must win all the games that we have left. Saturday against Lochore is a big one for us so I need a reaction and expect a performance.”

l Saturday’s fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm unless stated): GeoSonic Lowland League – Civil Service Strollers v Kelty Hearts (2pm). Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Conference A – Oakley United v Coldstream. Conference C - Linlithgow Rose v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts. Central Taxis League Cup, first round – Crossgates Primrose v Camelon.