Kelty Hearts: Tam O'Ware on their Livingston Premier Sports Cup exit

Kelty Hearts player / boss Tam O'Ware said that he had to look at his team's heavy loss at Livingston in context due to injuries hitting his squad.

The 'Maroon Machine' saw hopes of progressing out of the Premier Sports Cup group stage evaporate with a 6-0 defeat to the top flight Lions, who went through to the last 16 as one of three best-placed group stage runners-up.

Despite going into Saturday's final matches sitting fourth in Group H, Kelty still had an opportunity to qualify, having beaten Brora Rangers and earned a draw, and penalty shoot-out bonus point win over Kilmarnock, with a defeat to East Fife sandwiched in between. 

They needed a win at The Home of the Set Fare Arena and, although that didn't materialise, the main thing for O'Ware was not having further additions to the New Central Park treatment table.

That didn't materialise but the main thing for O'Ware was not having further additions to the New Central Park treatment table.

Kelty lost Lewis Moore against Killie to a hamstring problem, whilst centre back, Callum Flatman, looks set to miss the majority of the campaign after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

Lewis Moore missed out at Livingston after suffering an injury against Kilmarnock. (Image: David Wardle.) On top of that, midfielder Alex Ferguson, who joined in the summer, is out with a metatarsal knock, and O'Ware himself will miss the start of their League One fixtures after having a "clean-up" operation on his ankle for a bone issue that first occurred two years ago.

Craig Clay, another close season recruit from Dunfermline, also had to be substituted early on, and O'Ware said: "Disappointed overall with the result, we know that, but I need to look at it in the context with the team we've had to play.

"We need to look after the players, the experienced ones in the team, the ones that have played and that will probably play next week, just down to the injuries we've had.

"Today, we won't look too far into it. We know today's objective was to escape with no more injuries."

A tough assignment for Kelty, who started with on-loan teenage trio Lewis Carrol, Cooper Masson and Joseph Teasdale, became even tougher when Andy Winter headed home from Graham Carey's corner inside the opening minute for Livi.

Craig Clay was also taken off early in the match. (Image: David Wardle.) Carey turned provider again for the Premiership side in the 27th minute, slipping in Adam Montgomery to net after a neat passing move, before Robbie Muirhead's free-kick two minutes later made it 3-0.

One time Kelty loanee, Daniel Finlayson, crossed for Muirhead to head, via the post, his second and Livi's fourth before the break, after which Shane Blaney's back post finish with five minutes to go, and Stevie May header a minute later, complete the scoring.

"I think we have four or five teenagers playing, some making their competitive debut, first professional game, so there's a wee bit of leeway for that," O'Ware said.

"But, first half, not acceptable in terms of the standards that we've set.

"I think, if we're being honest, it's probably a wee bit of stage fright from some of them.

"Second half was much better and, last five minutes, they've let themselves just with a bit of concentration, but, we knew what today was going to be."