Saturday 19th May 2012.

Cupar Hearts
versus
Eastvale

Duffus Park
Kick off 2P.M.

Saturday 12th May 2012.

Semi-final Scottish Brewers Cup.

At the Star of Markinch Cupar Hearts relinquished the chance of a cup final against Lumphinnans after being beaten by a solitary goal in the first minute of the second half. As holders of the Scottish Brewers Cup Cupar went into the game the overwhelming favourites and it was an uphill battle against strong wind in the first half. It was a scrappy start to the game and Hearts were enjoying the majority of possession. The first attempt on goal fell to the visitors but Iain O’Leary’s shot from distance was wide. A mistake by Cupar’s Charles Anderson let in Paul Laurie soon after but he failed to find the target. Cupar kept pressing but had Star chasing and harassing their every move. Barry Sibanda for Cupar was unlucky after 10 minutes of play with an effort near the back post then a minute later his teammate Tommy Halley should have opened the scoring with a free header from 8 yards but it flew wide of the post. Some strange decisions by the referee weren’t helping Cupar’s cause but despite controlling most of the play and coping with only a handful of Star Hearts attacks they failed to capitalise.

After the break the Cupar support were expecting it to be all one way traffic but they were stunned in the opening minute when Paul Laurie broke down the left and his cross found the unmarked Martin McConnell who fired in from 15 yards. Hearts immediately set about an equaliser but their finishing was poor and as the half wore on the supporters were left wondering if a goal would ever come. A blatant hand ball in the penalty area was waived away by the referee and left Hearts increasingly frustrated. Cupars two substitutes entered the fray with 15 minutes remaining but couldn’t make an impression. Cupar were pushing forward and left them wanting at the back and on a couple of occasion Paul Laurie found himself free to attack and could easily have put the game to bed but he squandered his chances. His defence stood firm and after a poor season Star Hearts can now look forward to a cup final appearance.

Cupar Hearts: McEwan, Halley, Anderson (c), McInroy, Gilfillan, Kane, Nicoll, Crawford, Reilly, Sibanda, O’Leary, Simpson and Rintoul.

Rain!

Kingdom Caledonian League.

Cupar Hearts kept on course to regaining the league title on Saturday with a convincing win at Rosyth. The home squad was blighted with injuries and like Cupar Hearts were beaten Fife Cup semi- finalists. Cupar had their usual good away support and took a strong team despite the absence of Stephen Gilfillan.

Play was confined to midfield in the opening stages but a fine pass by Charles Anderson to Tommy Halley created the first corner kick of the match which led to another corner and then Cupar’s opening goal. Iain Boylan’s kick was met by Robert Crawford and his perfect header flew into the top corner. Barry Sibanda came close to making it two after 15 minutes but his header went just over. The following quarter of an hour play was again kept in the middle without any real chances for either side until Stuart Nicoll tested home keeper Laurie McIntosh from distance but he saved easily. Soon after, Hearts Captain Charles Anderson was unlucky to be penalised for a tackle on Lee Wothersoon giving Gary Penman a free strike from 25 yards but Cupar’s defensive wall stood firm. A minute later Lee Wothersoon made Steven McEwan make a fine save with an effort from the edge of the box but Cupar soon broke clear when Michael Reilly beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper and slotted home with ease just after the half hour mark. Soon after the restart Rosyth’s full back Greg Curry came close to pulling a goal back but his effort whistled past the post. A two goal lead at half time would suit most teams visiting Rosyth but Barry Sibanda had other ideas and in the dying seconds of the half he latched onto a good through ball by Iain Boylan and neatly side footed past McIntosh to give Hearts a three goal cushion at the break.

Early in the second half an effort by Cupar’s Robert Crawford was well saved by Laurie McIntosh then another good shot fell to Barry Sibanda but he hurried his shot to no avail. A poorly taken free kick by Rosyth led to Hearts’ fourth goal after 64 minutes. Just inside Cupar’s half the ball was sent square across the park looking for the full back but Iain O’Leary intercepted and sent Barry Sibanda on his way and he made no mistake from the edge of the box to double his tally. Alex Peoples for Rosyth tried to get on the score sheet but his effort was well high. Cupar subs Stuart Beveridge, Stephen Kane and David Simpdon were introduced in the remaining minutes and Beveridge was unlucky not to score when his first time volley was tipped over the bar. It turned out to be an easier win than anticipated and keeps Hearts top of the bunch.

Cupar: McEwan, Anderson, Crawford, Fraser, McInroy, Halley, Nicoll, O’Leary, Boylan, Reilly and Sibanda. Subs: Beveridge, Kane, Simpson, Rintoul and Honeyman.

Kingdom Caledonian League.

No match report available.

Saturday 28th April 2012.

Scottish Brewers Cup.

No match report available.

Goal scorers:

Barry Sibanda (4).
Michael Reilly (2).
Robert Crawford.

Thursday 26th April 2012.

Kingdom Caledonian League.

Fair City made the journey to Cupar in an attempt to put a dent to the home sides title challenge. With 15 minutes on the clock the home side opened the scoring after Barry Sibanda headed home a deep cross. The score line remained 1-0 at the interval but within a minute of the restart the home side doubled their lead after a high cross from Stuart Nicoll was headed down by Iain O’Leary and on the turn Iain Boylan fired home off the post for a fine finish. On 63 minutes it was roles reversed as a good cross by Iain Boylan was finished by Iain O’Leary. Iain Boylan rounded off the scoring for the evening in injury time converting a Tommy Halley pass to complete a 4-0 success.

Team: McEwan, Halley, Mcinroy, Anderson (c), Gilfiilan, Fraser, Boylan, Nicoll, O’Leary, G Reilly, Sibanda.

Subs: Simpson, Beveridge, M Reilly, Honeyman, Rintoul.

Tuesday 24th April 2012.

Kingdom Caledonian League.

Cupar Hearts made the journey to Strathmiglo looking to hit back after their cup exit at the hands of United several days earlier. It was a more determined Hearts side with Captain Charles Anderson returning to take his place in the back four and a much improved performance.

Hearts wasted no time in getting procedures under way and opened the scoring on 8 minutes. A free kick by Gary Reilly was spilled by ‘keeper Jamie Gibson and Barry Sibanda was on hand to fire home from close range. Gary Reilly should have doubled Cupar’s lead moments later when his shot went inches over after a good one two with Iain Boylan. On 15 minutes a mistake by Stephen Gilfillan let in Grant Skinnner but his shot was wide. The home side pulled one back soon after when Darren Baillie headed a corner kick back across goal and William McLaughlin nodded the ball in. Cupar regained their lead 10 minutes later when a low cross by Barry Sibanda was neatly side footed into the back of the net by Iain Boylan. This was short lived though as straight from the restart Hearts failed to clear their lines and Mark Hampton’s fierce shot nutmegged the ‘keeper to level the scores. Strathmiglo were unlucky not to edge in front after a scramble in the box but Shaun Leishman’s effort came back off the post. It was the away side that grabbed a goal before the break with only 3 minutes remaining. A Stephen Gilfillan free kick was cleared out only as far as Stuart Nicoll and his excellent ball was headed in by Gary Reilly. Hearts weren’t finished yet as right on half time they scored goal number four. Barry Sibanda did all the hard work to set up Gary Reilly and he blasted the ball home.

Cupar Hearts were doing all the pressing in the opening stages of the second half. Iain O’Leary’s shot went wide and Scott McInroy’s effort was just off target. Cupar increased their lead on 64 minutes with a great individual goal by Barry Sibanda. He shrugged off three players before bursting the net leaving the ‘keeper with no chance. Then a scramble in the box at the other end resulted in Scott McInroy fouling Stuart Luke and the referee pointed to the spot. Darren Baillie stepped up for the home side but fired his penalty kick high over. Tommy Halley did excellently to make an important block on the 70 minute mark when a poor clearance by Steven McEwan left Strath’s William McLaughlin with an open goal. Liam Ivory should have scored for the home side when he did well to get through on goal but his effort came back off the upright and Iain O’Leary cleared. Cupar Hearts took their foot off the gas in the remaining minutes and allowed Strathmiglo a goal back. Darren Baillie slotted the ball home just before the final whistle to conclude the scoring.

Hearts: McEwan, Anderson (c), Gilfillan, McInroy, Halley, Nicoll, Fraser, O’Leary, Reilly, Boylan and Sibanda. Subs: Reilly, Beveridge, Simpson, Honeyman and McLean.

Game off.

Waterlogged Pitch.

Thursday 19th April 2012.

Semi-final Fife Cup.

Cupar Hearts failed to make it to the Fife Cup final for a fifth time in six seasons when they were defeated by league opponents Strathmiglo United. Cupar made some positional changes with their captain Charles Anderson on the side lines with a hamstring injury. Straight from the kick off Strathmiglo pressed forward and it was easy to see that Woods would be their danger man as he tested the Hearts ‘keeper in the first minute. In reply Iain Boylan saw his low drive cleared. Woods was soon threatening the Hearts defence again and his effort was put behind for a corner kick by Steven McEwan. Cupar Hearts managed to gain a couple of corner kicks after 10 minutes play but Barry Sibanda eventually headed over. The midfield was dominating the play and Hearts were struggling to keep possession. Cupar came close to getting the opener on 18 minutes when Barry Sibanda headed down from a Stephen Gilfillan corner but Gibson just managed to stop the ball crossing the line at the foot of the post. As the half wore on any efforts on goal came from distance. Leishman for Strathmiglo effort went wide then Iain Boylan for Cupar saw his strike go well wide. Just before the break Cupar’s Stuart Nicoll made a good run but his shot from long range was again wide.

The Hearts supporters were hoping for a much improved performance in the second half but they were to be bitterly disappointed as they watched their opponents being the more dogged and determined side. When Cupar Hearts did break forward they were too often caught offside. Stuart Nicoll fired another shot from distance over the bar and then at the other end a corner kick by Strath’s Wood caused panic in the goalmouth but the ball was eventually scrambled clear. One of Cupar’s better moves after 65 minutes involving Boylan and Gilfillan almost opened the scoring but Boylan finished the move by hooking the ball just over the bar. Cupar replaced Michael Reilly with Gary Reilly and his first involvement was a mazy run but his shot was just wide. Cupar Hearts again lost possession in midfield and Ivory took advantage when he did well to make space a fire a low drive from 25 yards in which Steven McEwan did excellently to turn around the post. It was from the resultant corner however that Strath would score what would be the winner. McEwan punched the incoming ball clear but only as far as Ivory at the edge of the box and his fierce drive was wickedly deflected into the top corner. With only 13 minutes remaining Cupar subs David Rintoul and David Simpson replaced Grant Fraser and Robert Crawford but play remained in the same vein. In the closing stages Hearts did find the net when David Simpson headed home only to see it deemed offside. Hearts couldn’t find a way through the resolute Strath defence in the remaining minutes and so it is Strathmiglo who deservedly take their place in the final.

Hearts: McEwan, Crawford, McInroy, O’Leary, Gilfillan, Halley, Nicoll, Boylan, M. Reilly, Fraser and Sibanda. Subs: Kane, G. Reilly, Simpson and Rintoul.