West End reach Super League

Forfar side in the top flight after aggregate victory over Star

Forfar West End pulled off something of a surprise after they were promoted to the Super League after defeating Newtongrange Star 3-2 on aggregate.

Daryl McKenzie’s side enjoyed a twogoal advantage going in to Saturday’s second leg after a 3-1 win at Strathmore Park last weekend.

There were a few nerves after James Flynn put Newtongrange 1-0 in front just before half-time but, just as they had last week, West End defended brilliantly to secure a place in the top flight.

The aggregate win was the icing on the cake for striker Graeme Hart, who heard he had passed his Uefa B Licence on Friday, and he said: “For five years I have been told I am too big and not good enough etc, but one person kept faith in me and today we have won promotion to the Super League.

“We have probably the lowest budget in the league but maybe now people with give us a break instead of telling us we aren’t good enough.”

Meanwhile it was party time at New Central Park as Kelty Hearts were crowned Super League Champions.

The game against Bonnyrigg Rose had been billed as a winner-takes-all title decider but with Bonnyrigg losing at home to Linlithgow in midweek that had gone out of the window.

Kelty enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over their rivals. Scott Dalziel put Hearts in front on 20 minutes before Brian Ritchie made it 2-0 10 minutes before the break.

Archie Campbell wrapped things up 10 minutes from the end and once the final whistle went the party began as the Fife side were presented with the Super League trophy.

Question marks remain over the club’s future, however, as a move to the East of Scotland League and the pyramid system look on the cards, so it is unlikely that Kelty will be around to defend their title.

Despite it being the end of the season and with only local bragging rights on offer, Broughty Athletic and Lochee United served up a top quality dish at Whitton Park.

Bryan Deasley put the visitors in front on 23 minutes when he got on the end of a rebound to stab the ball home and Kevin Buchan got on the end of a Dougie Cameron free-kick to bullet a header past John Sinclair in the Broughty goal.

Four minutes later it looked all over as Deasley scored his second and United’s third.

Jamie Winter managed to pull one back for Broughty just before half -time but his side still faced an uphill task in the second half.

Whatever Broughty boss Keith Gibson said seemed to work as his side come out with renewed purpose and when Ross McCord hit a free-kick beyond Mark Fotheringham the home side looked like completing a great comeback but the Lochee defence held firm to take the points and finish in the top five.

There was a real end of season feel at Riverside Stadium as Jeanfield Swifts played host to Linlithgow Rose.

The visitors were the winners thanks to a Tommy Coyne goal midway through the second half to continue their revival under Mark Bradley.