Ferrari Packaging Lowland League Cup, 1st round:

Spartans 1 Kelty Hearts 1 (aet Spartans win 3-2 on penalties)

GOALKEEPER Blair Carswell was Spartans’ hero as Kelty Hearts’ season came to an end after a penalty shoot-out on Friday night.

Barry Ferguson’s side, who finished third in their debut Lowland League campaign, saw their shot at cup glory end when Errol Douglas saw his spot-kick saved after a keenly-contested clash at Ainslie Park.

Marksman Stuart Cargill came agonisingly close to giving the visitors a 12th minute lead when he headed Elliot Ford’s cross against the bar but goal chances were few and far between.

Kelty took the lead 11 minutes into extra time when Chris Dodd’s diving header from Scott McBride’s cross beat Carswell.

However, moments into the second period, Josh Wishart’s deep free kick into the box eluded everybody and ended up in the Kelty net, forcing a spot-kick showdown.

Dodd saw his penalty saved, then Carswell denied Scott Dalziel after Adam Corbett netted for Spartans, before Scott Christie saved from Scott Maxwell.

McBride netted for Kelty, before the hosts’ Arron Scott and Stephen Husband traded successful kicks, but after Atkinson scored for Spartans, Carswell’s save from Douglas sent Ferguson’s men out.

Central Taxis East of Scotland League, Conference B: Crossgates Primrose 0 Haddington Athletic 0

CROSSGATES boss Alan Campbell has praised his players for a fine season despite being unable to finish their league programme with victory.

Their stalemate with Haddington Athletic confirmed their place in next season’s Premier League, which had been sealed barring a hefty defeat, and a win for nearest challengers for fifth spot, Sauchie Juniors, after last week’s defeat of Dalkeith Thistle.

They will now have a week off before a King Cup quarter-final with Ormiston, and Campbell said: “It was a bit of a strange game and we never got going in the first half.

“Both teams cancelled each other out but in the second half, we took control and made four or five good chances. Our final ball and touch wasn’t quite there but another clean sheet is pleasing.

“We played reasonably well and I’m not too disappointed. The boys have done really well.”

Consolation League Cup: Rosyth 1 Whitburn Juniors 5

BRIAN MUIRHEAD said his Rosyth side were beaten by a “superior side” as they fell to defeat against Whitburn.

The visitors moved 2-0 up inside 15 minutes and, although Gregg Page pulled one back two minutes after the interval, the visitors soon struck again before adding two more in the final 15 minutes.

Muirhead commented: “We were beaten by a superior side.

“In the second half, we battled well, but they were more organised, fitter and better. I was really impressed with them; they were just good, hard football players.

“We’ve got two massive league games coming up that are cup finals for us now.”

l Saturday’s fixture: McBookie.com Premier League South – Rosyth v Harthill Royal (2.30pm).