Cargill fires Hearts to the Top

With all due to respect to Linlithgow Rose ( home to Raith Rovers) and Bo'ness United (away to Elgin City) both in the Scottish Cup, the place to be for East Super League fans was Central Park, Kelty, where the local Hearts entertained Newtongrange Star in a top of the table clash. It was the highest scoring side in the league against the meanest defence and the only remaining unbeaten sides in the East Region in direct competition.

A good crowd were in attendance on a fine afternoon. There was a strong wind blowing up the slope and Kelty chose to harness it in the first period. In their first attack the home side nearly took the lead. The dangerous Grady fed in McCabe and his fierce shot was turned over by Renton in the Star goal. From the resultant corner Leighton headed against the crossbar.

Star were rattled by this quick start but in their first raid won a corner. Thomson's kick found Gillon and his effort was scrambled away.

It was a fairly even game with both sides seeking to gain the upper hand in midfield. Greig was prominent for the home side and as ever Thomson kept trying to find the telling through ball for the visitors.

After 19 minutes Star produced a fine piece of interplay involving Deland, Thomson and Cropley which resulted in a tame shot by Kris Renton - but it was good football. 

Kelty replied with a poor shot from the strangely quiet Cargill.

As the half wore on Kelty began to gain the ascendency. After 35 minutes McCabe fired a great shot in which looked sure to open the scoring, but Kris Renton dived full length to somehow head the effort for a corner. The half drew to a close with the home team looking likely to take the lead and Star were happy to hear the half time whistle!

Half Time:  Kelty Hearts 0; Newtongrange Star 0

There were no changes at the break and Kelty started off where they had left off.

After 48 minutes Star failed to clear a corner and when the ball found its way back into the area Greig fired in a fierce shot which was turned past goalkeeper Renton by  Cargill- after a quiet first half the leagues too goalscorer had again shown his worth.

Three minutes later the lead was doubled. Grady did well to win the ball on the right. His pass found Cargill whose mazy run ended in him being brought down just inside the box. Referee Lambe was right on the spot and although it seemed harsh, he awarded a penalty. Cargill got up and fired the award to Renton's left to score his seventeenth league goal of the season.
Kelty were rampant now and a minute later a Courts corner was headed just over by O'Neil

Star looked rattled but 2 minutes later Kris Renton won the ball in midfield and his accurate shot from 25 yards gave Allison in the home goal no chance - 2-1 and game on. A minute later Star won a free kick 25 yards out on the right. Thomson took the kick and his fantastic swerving free kick cannoned back of the cross bar!! 

The game had changed and Star now had the upper hand. Hearts were holding on but after 70 minutes the pendulum swung again. Kelty played the ball across the back and when  Leighton fired a long cross field ball towards Cargill, the super striker controlled the ball brilliantly and fired a 20 yard shot across Renton into the far corner - a hat trick for Cargill, 18 League goals for the prolific striker and 3-1 to Kelty.

Star tried hard to get back into the game but Kelty were solid at the back and Allison untroubled in the home goal.

This was a fine advert for the Super League. Two top sides playing some good football. Kelty deserved the points but Star gave a fair account of themselves. The difference between the teams was the razor sharp finishing of Stuart Cargill. The frontman was anonymous in the first half but electric after the break.

Man of the match Cargill was supported by Greig and the solid Duffin with home manager Tam Courts a leader at the back. Kris  Renton and Thomson were best for the visitors.

Kelty now have the only undefeated record in the East Region and are back on top of the Super League. After a third of the league season the challengers are starting to emerge but these two sides will be in the shake up come May.

It's Fife and Lothians Cup duty next week for both sides. Kelty visit Kirkcaldy YM and Star entertain Broxburn Athletic.

Full Time :  Kelty Hearts 3; Newtongrange Star 1

Gordon Baird - Neutral Reporter