Kelty Hearts 3 East Fife 0, Premier Sports Cup, Group B

NATHAN AUSTIN returned to haunt his former club as Kelty Hearts secured a fine Premier Sports Cup win over East Fife.

The former New Bayview hitman's first half double, added to by substitute Alfredo Agyeman's late third, ensured a first three points in this season's competition for the New Central Park side.

Whilst the visitors weren't at their best, nothing can be taken away from Kelty, who passed with confidence and created numerous first half chances, and managed the game well after the break.

Their first win after two games leaves them three points behind Arbroath, who they play next Saturday after a midweek visit to Elgin City, after this notable win over League One opposition.

Kevin Thomson's side were looking for their first points in Group B following their narrow defeat to Dundee United last Friday, and they started well against the League One side.

Kallum Higginbotham, after being set up well by Austin, had an early sighter with a side footer that Scott Gallacher saved but, with 13 minutes on the clock, the hosts struck.

After some patient passing, Dougie Hill's ball over the top was seized on by Austin, who coolly slotted home from the left edge of the six yard box.

Cardle had the ball in the net seven minutes later, only to be penalised for handball, after Sean Brown shot narrowly wide for East Fife.

However, with 25 minutes gone, it was 2-0.

The hosts worked the ball wide left to Cardle, who sent a superb cross into the box.

Although a Fife defender got a head on it while trying to clear, he could only leave the ball in Austin's path, who made no mistake at the back post.

Austin was almost in for his hat-trick on the half hour, with Gallacher doing enough as he tried to round him, while he and Thomas Reilly had further efforts from range before the half was over.

At the break, Thomson replaced Hill with summer signing Jordan Forster, formerly of Hibernian and Dundee, and the home defence had a moment of concern 10 minutes after the restart when Brown and Ryan Wallace seemed to get each other's way in the penalty area.

Danny Denholm then shot wide from 20 yards as the visitors enjoyed a better spell in the match, and they had another chance from a set piece as Wallace fired over.

As the clock tucked into the final 15 minutes, Scott Mercer was off target, having been found by Wallace in East Fife's best move of the game, but it simply wasn't their day.

And, with three minutes left, Agyeman was played in on goal and, after rounding Gallacher, completed a fine day's work for an impressive Kelty.

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Philp, Peggie, Hill (Forster 45), McNab, Reilly (Black 67), Tidser, Barjonas, Cardle (Biabi 57), Austin (Agyeman 67), Higginbotham.

Subs not used: Russell, McKenzie, Bridgeford, Martin.

Goals: Austin (13, 25), Agyeman (87).

East Fife: Gallacher, Murdoch (Dunsmore 37), Dunlop, Higgins, Mercer, Denholm (Slattery 76), Davidson, McManus (Smith 80), Wallace, Brown (Watt 76), Newton (Cunningham 76).

Subs not used: Campbell, Steele, Allan.

Booked: Dunlop (62).

Referee: Barry Cook.