Elgin City 3 Kelty Hearts 2, Scottish Cup, third round

Kelty Hearts assistant manager Kevin McDonald felt that they "couldn't really get going" or created enough in front of goal during their Scottish Cup exit at Elgin City.

The League One leaders were knocked out of the competition by their opponents from the division below, who also top their table, by the odd-goal-in-five.

Meeting for the third time this season - a Premier Sports Cup group stage tie had ended in a 1-1 draw, with Elgin winning a penalty shoot-out bonus point, and an SPFL Trust Trophy tie was won 3-1 by Kelty - they played out an entertaining match at Borough Briggs.

After chances at both ends, it was Elgin who took the lead two minutes before the break, when Ryan Sargent leapt highest at the far post to meet Owen Cairns' cross and head beyond Ryan Adamson in the visitors' goal.

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However, just before the hour mark, Michael Tidser's side hit back when Callum Flatman headed home, unmarked, from Ross Cunningham's pinpoint free-kick.

Dajon Golding then rattled the Kelty crossbar, and he played a part in the hosts re-taking the lead with 13 minutes to go.

With the visitors on the attack, Lewis Moore had a shot blocked and, from there, the ball kindly for Golding to lead a counter into Kelty's half.

He then played the ball to the right for Dylan Gavin, who rifled a low drive into the far bottom corner of the net.

Six minutes later, Elgin grabbed a third goal when Gavin got the better of Flatman, as they both attempted to win a high ball, with the home man beating his opponent before playing it across the box for Sargent, who stroked home his second of the game from eight yards.

Tidser's men were quickly offered a lifeline when Craig Johnston was pushed over inside the box by Kyle Girvan, allowing Cunningham to net from the penalty spot for his 10th goal of the season, but it wasn't enough as Kelty bowed out of the tournament.

"They (Elgin) played really well and, listening to their manager's interview after the game, I think they gave us plenty of respect, which is obviously good on our part," McDonald said.

"They had us watched and they appreciate how we pass the ball. They got their press right and how they managed the game. We just played in spurts, really. We couldn't really get going and didn't create enough chances, but we dominated a lot of the ball.

"I think if we'd scored first it might've been a different game, but we couldn't seem to get going at all, to be honest."

Kelty were without on-loan Dundee United pair, goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams and defender Sam Cleall-Harding, as well as player / manager Tidser, midfielder and first team coach, Scott Allan, and Luke McCarvel.

"It makes a big difference to the team to be fair," McDonald added.

"I think even missing one of your best players is hard, never missing arguably three, in the gaffer, Sam and Ruairidh, that have been a massive mainstay in the team. Luke McCarvel's been in and out because of injury, but the gaffer, big Sam and Ruaridh Adams have been three that we really missed on Saturday.

"I think that's probably the risk you run with taking the option of getting the five loans. You rely on them heavily because, the financial situation we're in, we haven't got loads and loads of money to be signing all these players that are better than the level really.

"Obviously, the players you get on loan are better than the level, so that is the risk you run, but, at the end of the day, the bread and butter is the league. That's the main focus now.

"We're never going to win the Scottish Cup. It would've been a nice fairytale, or pot of money for the club, but at the end of the day, the league is the bread and butter. Hopefully, now we'll have them back on Saturday, they will make a big difference."