Kelty lose at Aberdeen in final Premier Sports Cup game

Kelty Hearts saw their Premier Sports Cup campaign come to an end with a defeat to Premiership Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Tam O'Ware's League Two side recorded their first victory in Group A last Tuesday, with a last-minute Finn Moffett goal sealing it against Brora Rangers, and sat third in the standings.

Stephen Robinson, who lifted the trophy as St Mirren boss last term, had led the Reds to three wins from three, including a 4-1 success at Queen of the South.

With Queen's Park second with six points - they moved on to nine by beating the Doonhamers - Kelty's hopes of progressing were practically over.

The Maroon Machine lost 3-0 at Pittodrie. (Image: David Wardle.)

However, ahead of the game, O'Ware had called on his players to put on a performance, noting: "I'm demanding that they go and knock their pan in, I'm demanding that they go and compete in the game, so, it's another opportunity for us to go and develop as a group and learn as a group."

The Maroon Machine, though, got off to the worst possible start when, with just two minutes on the clock, Kevin Nisbet tucked home a penalty for the Reds, awarded after Dylan Corr had felled Toyosi Olusanya.

That put Kelty on the back foot, and minutes later, Nisbet again came close, before Lewis Smith narrowly sent an effort over the bar.

Just shy of the half hour mark, Aberdeen, playing Kelty for the first time, doubled their lead.

A flighted ball into the box was knocked down intelligently by Nisbet, and into the path of Kjartan Kjartansson, who was initially denied by goalkeeper Jamie Smith.

Unfortunately for him, though, the ball then rebounded off the Dons man and ended up in the back of the net.

That put the hosts firmly in command, and Nisbet was inches from a third, hitting the bar with a fine free-kick, but they did find it five minutes after the break.

A cross from the left by half-time substitute, Tony Yogane, was out of reach for centre back, Callum Flatman, and keeper Smith got down low to his left to push the ball away.

Kelty, who defeated Brora Rangers last Tuesday, finished third in Group A. (Image: David Wardle.)

Unfortunately, it fell to the feet of Olusanya, who had the simple task of netting from close range to round off Aberdeen's victory.

The Dons, meeting Kelty for the first time, progressed to the last 16 as group winners, winning all four of their games.

O'Ware's side, who kick off their League Two campaign at Forfar Athletic on Saturday, finished third with five points, behind Queen's Park, who missed out on qualification due to Dunfermline beating St Mirren on Sunday.