Sauchie (1) ......................... 1 Kelty Hearts (2) ................. 2 Super league champions, Kelty, visited Beechwood Park on Wednesday evening. On the opening Saturday of the season the visitors were beaten by Newtongrange with Sauchie notching up a win against Bo’ness.

Kelty are a big strong side and full of running. The energy level in the Sauchie side is very high and this was going to be an interesting game with both teams giving their all.

Fraser Duncan fielded the same team that defeated Bo’ness with no place in the starting line-up for Bruce McAdam or Stuart Love.

The visitors made a quick start and opened the scoring in 5 minutes. A Steve Dolan short pass back was gathered by Paul Currie inside the area to net easily.

Sauchie were level in 14 minutes. Ant McTaggart won possession and pushed wide to Ryan Millar and his fine cross was headed home by Conor Kelly.

Brian Ritchie was a handful for the home defence. He took charge of the ball in a central position on the edge of the box and knocked wide to Calum Smith who drilled the ball home in 24 minutes.

It was all good stuff with Brian Morgan and David Morrison forcing things forward for Sauchie. On the other side Conrad Courts was covering every blade of grass whilst his brother Tom mopped up the high balls into the Kelty area.

A free kick was awarded for a Jordan Tapping infringement on Paul Currie some 25 yards from Goal. Conrad Courts directed the ball over the wall and back off the crossbar with Ross Harkness stranded.

Stuart Cargill came on for the injured Ritchie and was instantly in the action. The Sub found himself in front of goal with only the keeper to beat but his shot was saved on the line by Harkness.

Kelty came out of the traps quicker than Sauchie after the break. Cargill fired across goal then Scott Gates sent in a tantalising cross but again found no takers. Tom Courts cleared out of defence and allowed Cargill to move in on goal with his parting shot carrying high over.

With Gary Currie and Bruce McAdam on the park Sauchie changed their style of play with the ball now being pushed around on the grass, giving the Kelty defence problems. Tapping picked out Ryan Millar and he fed to Morgan with his snap shot being held by Kyle Allison. Currie was playing neat passes allowing Millar to run at Courts and Murray Carstairs, but the defenders were too strong.

Two minutes into time added on a Tappings tackle on Paul Currie was deemed to be a bookable offence and that was his second and an early bath.

Sauchie – Harkness, McTaggart (Currie), Boyle, Dolan, Tapping, McCulloch, Morgan, Morrison, Kelly (Love), Millar, Syme (McAdam).