Hearts blow Emirates chances
Published 22 Feb 2012 08:00
0 Comments
KELTY Hearts missed a golden chance to reach the Scottish Emirates Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
Playing against a ten man Largs Thistle side they failed to take their chances and lost out by the odd goal in three.
Elsewhere Hill of Beath Hawthornand Ballingry Rovers made the latter stages of the Fife and Lothians Cup while Lochgelly Albert and Dundonald Bluebell dropped Central League points.
Largs Thistle 2, Kelty Hearts 1.
ON a day when the weather was changing faster than a set of traffic lights Hearts should have earned a replay at least in this Emirates fifth round tie on the Ayrshire coast.
Kelty booked the wind in the first-half but it saw neither side really create many chances.
Darren Smith went closest for the visitors with a shot which brought out a magnificent save from the home 'keeper and Kelty hopes were further lifted when Largs were reduced to ten men.
Thistle got a break in 50 minutes when Kelty defender Graham Findlay slipped and banged into a Thistle striker in the box and the penalty was converted.
As things started to go pearshaped for Kelty a 20 yard shot took a wicked deflection and wrong footed Allan Fleming and they were two behind.
However, Hearts came back and when Ian Mauchlan shot home in 65 minutes they were back in the tie.
Findlay saw the Largs 'keeper make a great save from his effort and then Conrad Courts was denied by the Thistle last line.
Then in the closing stages Roger Duffin appeared to be impeded in the box but the referee waved play on and Kelty were out of the competition.
Hearts boss Keith Burgess was disappointed with his team. He commented, "We really did not play well at all. Too many of our big players did not come to the party in this game but still we should have at least had a replay."
Hill of Beath Hawthorn 4, Musselburgh Athletic 0.
HAWS cruised into the next round of the Fife and Lothians with this convincing Keir's Park win.
This clash between two Super Leaguers saw the home side have the better of possession and they took the lead in ten minutes when Stephen Bathgate made a good run and his cross was turned into the net by Ian Hepburn.
Athletic were finding the pace tough to handle and when Bathgate released Craig Smart the striker cleverly shot home.
There was a big blow for Hill of Beath when Smart was sent-off for a second yellow but they still controlled things in the second period and in 75 minutes went three up when Danny Kelly's cut back set up Barry Smith whose 20 yard chip gave the 'keeper no chance.
Five minutes from time the tie was sealed when Bathgate's shot was blocked by the 'keeper and Callum Adamson fired home the rebound.
Haws manager Jock Finlayson was pleased with the win, "We were in charge throughout the tie and even with ten men we were never really in any bother.."
Armadale Thistle 0, Ballingry Rovers 1.
ROVERS went into this Fife and Lothians test short handed with only 12 fit players but they were the better side in the first period.
They had a couple of good chances and took the lead when Jamie Gilfillan fired the ball into the net.
There were other chances for Ballingry but Thistle kept them out and started to put the visitors under pressure after the break.
Indeed, Armadale hit the post but at the other end Gilfillan came close to making it 2-0.
Ballingry had to battle in midfield as the pitch cut up and they managed to keep their share of the ball and ensure that Thistle did not have a lot of good openings.
Rovers manager Dave Baikie was a happy man at full-time, "We were short of players but those who turned out worked really hard and ensured a shut out which was really pleasing."
Kirkcaldy YM 2, Dundonald Bluebell 2.
DUNDONALD looked to to be on target for victory at half-time in this Central League promotion clash.
The opening stages saw YM have some early pressure but it was Bluebell who took the lead in just 15 minutes through a Stewart Cargill strike.
Bluebell continued to control the game and the main surprise was that it took them until the 40th minute to grab number two.
Steven Forbes beat two defenders before putting a 20 yard shot beyond the 'keeper.
Things looked good for Dundonald but YM still had hopes of a fight-back and some hesitancy in the Moorside defence let YM back into the match.
Still Dundonald looked the better side but some poor defending again from the visitors let YM in to square the match and despite some late Bluebell chances it was two points lost.
Rosyth Recreation 1, Lochgelly Albert 1.
ALBERT would have felt they had enough chances to win this Central League game at the Recs.
Darren Seath shot wide early on but Colin Rushford had to look lively to tip a shot over before at the other end Lee Celentano saw a shot saved then Chris Hughes clipped the bar with a fine effort.
No goals at the break but Lochgelly went in front in 51 minutes when Celentano's pass picked out Seath who peeled off his marker and fired home.
Seath then hit the side net from close in but Rosyth had a good chance when a header was directed too straight and Rushford saved well.
However, with eight minutes left Rosyth levelled when a shot took a weird deflection and flew over Rushford to deny Albert victory.
Lochore Welfare 0, Jeanfield Swifts 1.
CENTRAL League leaders Swifts left Central Park with all three points but they were tested by the home side.
James Davis made his debut for Lochore in defence and played solidly but Jeanfield took the lead in only eight minutes.
From that point to the break Lochore had some good chances and were really unlucky to go in at half-time in arrears.
The second period saw Lochore reduced to ten men when Paul Duncan was sent off for a second yellow but then they were reduced to nine when player/boss Craig Reynolds was given a red for dissent.
However, Welfare had chances and Brett McGuire and Robert Fyfe both failed when sent clean through and John Ferguson also went close for the home side with a good shot which was just off target.
Luncarty 1, Crossgates Primrose 6.
BOTTOM of the Central League, Luncarty, ran into a goal storm against Crossgates Primrose in Perthshire.
The home side's cause was not helped by a sending off early in the game and the Humbug men took full advantage.
The Bleachers were reduced to ten men as Crossgates took the lead from the penalty spot through Darren Watson.
However, Luncarty settled down to play a good containing game and only one goal stood between the teams at half-time.
However, after the break Colin Grindly increased the lead and although Luncarty pulled one back they then had another man ordered off.
Goals flowed against the gallant nine with Greg Robertson, Dale Allan and Steven Stark (2) all netting and Luncarty's bad day was complete with another sending-off.
SATURDAY'S Fixtures: East Super League, Bathgate Thistle v Hill of Beath Hawthorn, Lochee United v Kelty Hearts (2.15). East Premier League, Ballingry Rovers v Broxburn (2.15).
Central League, Thornton Hibs v Lochgelly Albert, Crossgates Primrose v Lochore Welfare, Dundonald Bluebell v Steelend Victoria (2.15)
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
Central Fife Times Poll
Should Andy Gray and Richard Keys have lost their jobs in the Sky sexism row?
This Poll is now closed.
Yes (50.7%)
No (49.3%)
