KELTY HEARTS boss Kevin Thomson admitted that his side had to hold their "hands up to quality" despite feeling that they were on the end of a harsh scoreline in their Scottish Cup exit.

The League Two leaders, backed by a superb, 608-strong travelling support, saw their historic run in the competition come to an end at Premiership St Mirren.

READ MORE: Kelty's cup run ended as Saints march on

In what was their first-ever appearance in the last 16, Alex Greive's header gave Jim Goodwin's Buddies a first half lead, which Jordan Jones added to four minutes after the restart with a fabulous strike into the top corner.

Greg Kiltie made it 3-0 just before the hour mark and, despite having chances to pull a consolation goal back, Kelty conceded a fourth goal to the same player five minutes from time.

Thomson felt the final scoreline was harsh on his side, who competed well in the first half and might have taken the lead just before Saints' opener, when Joe Cardle was blocked by the home defence after being set up by Kallum Higginbotham.

Having shocked holders St Johnstone in the previous round, having seen off League One Montrose, and Highland League Buckie Thistle prior, there was to be no repeat as Kelty's brave run came to an end.

"It was probably harsh in the end but, at the same time, you're playing a Premier League team. You have to take your medicine," he said.

"I thought, first half, the big moments actually fell to us and Joe Cardle. I thought our shape at times without the ball was really good and we huffed and puffed a wee bit.

"When they got Jordan Jones in the front of the pitch, it's just the harsh reality that he's a bit better than the level.

"We worked all week to make sure we keep him on his left, and he cuts inside in the second half and flings one into the top corner with his right.

"Sometimes you have to hold your hands up to quality, but I thought the big moments, especially first half, when the game was nip and tuck, we were well in it.

"I thought when we got a wee bit impatient without the ball we looked a wee bit ragged, and all of a sudden, the fitter, stronger, faster team punish you at times.

"But, at the same time, I thought 4-0 was a wee bit harsh. It is what it is. They're a good team, they're miles above us when it comes to the pecking order in Scottish football.

"It's the same as when they go to Rangers or go to Celtic; sometimes they need to take their medicine.

"We take it today. We'll dust ourselves down, we've got a big game next week, and we'll go again."

Referencing the quality of the goal from former Rangers and Kilmarnock winger Jones, Thomson noted: "The big chances in the first half fell to Joe Cardle, and the harsh reality is that Jordan is an exceptional footy player, so any team that's in League Two playing against a Premier League team, when somebody cuts inside and flings one in the top corner, a bit of brilliance, it blows your bubble, really.

"When it went two, we were up against it. Were we going to come here and score two or three goals? Probably not, so we had to try and stay in the game.

"At 1-0 we were quite comfortable. We thought that, at half-time, with the way the first half went, we would get opportunities in the second half. I think we did at times, but at the same time, we never capitalised on them.

"The harsh reality is we give them one at the end to make it four, and when we did get a bit stretched, we did look a bit ragged.

"I'm delighted with the boys. We're not going to play against St Mirren's every week; it's just the way it is. But, at the same time, I've got a group of players that have got the personality that they want to try and have a go.

"We said all week that we would try and have a go. I'm not so sure it was as comfortable as they would make out, but at the same time, we need to understand where we're at. I want the boys to want to feel that they can beat these kind of teams, I want the boys to feel that, no matter who we're playing, we've got the mentality that we're going to have a go.

"We'll always get beat. The best teams in the world get beat. Unfortunately we got a wee bit of a sore one today, so we need to take it on the chin, move on, and make sure we do ourselves justice in League Two."

Buddies boss Goodwin, who led his team to the semi-finals of the competition last year, has his eyes set on a return to Hampden and was delighted with what he felt was a "professional" performance.

"Yeah I think that's the word I used in the dressing room after the game, and that's also the word I used with the broadcasters there. It was a really professional performance," he said.

"We didn't underestimate Kelty in the build-up to the game. I said in my pre-match press conference that we would treat them with the same respect as we would give any Premier League opposition.

"It could've been a real tricky tie. Kelty are flying high in their own league, they've got very, very good players, they're not used to losing many games, so they would have obviously been coming into this game high on confidence, but I thought the overall performance from every one of my players, the subs included, was really, really consistent.

"There was no sloppiness. It was just a real, professional afternoon.

"Some really good goals. Obviously the first one's a bit of a scramble; Taits (Richard Tait) does great at the back stick, and Alex Greive is in the right place. Two in two for the wee man.

"Kilite gets a brace as well and probably goal of the day no doubt will go to Jordan Jones. He's real quality.

"Since he's came in, he's been a breath of fresh air to be honest. He carries a real attacking threat every time he gets the ball, good things happen.

"It's probably not fair to single out any individual because I thought across the board, from Jak Alnwick right through to all the subs, there wasn't one real below-par performance.

"To win as convincingly as what we did is probably the most pleasing aspect but I would've taken a scrappy 1-0 before a ball was kicked because cup competitions, it's just about getting through and making sure you're in the hat for the next round."

On hoping to return to the national stadium, he added: "Obviously (we were) there twice last season and we want to get back there this time round with, hopefully, the whole of Paisley behind us cheering us on so the lads that haven't experienced that atmosphere before can experience it properly this time round.

"I've been there myself as a player and to have 15, 20,000 St Mirren fans there cheering you on, which was the case when we done it in 2013 in the League Cup, it's a great experience and is something that stays with you forever.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get through the next round and all the boys can go and experience that with a full house at Hampden."