Last minute decision by the referee calls the game off due to frozen pitch.

Kingdom Caledonian League.

Cupar Hearts welcomed local rivals Kettle United to Duffus Park last Saturday. Kettle travelled with a very depleted squad and kicked off with the very strong wind to their advantage. Cupar were first to show in front of goal when Stuart Beveridge’s cross was cleared for a corner but Hearts couldn’t capitalise. Moments later Barry Sibanda broke through but was brought down 25 yards out. The resultant free kick was fired against the defensive wall by Barry Sibanda then Stuart Nicoll fired the rebound high over. Cupar were controlling proceedings and were playing some excellent neat football despite the soft pitch and strong wind. As the half wore on Kettle rarely tested Steven McEwan in the home goal. After 28 minutes a good ball was sent in by Scott McInroy but Michael Reilly’s effort was well wide. Two minutes later Hearts opened the scoring after good work by Charles Anderson. His pass found Barry Sibanda after a neat one-two with Michael Reilly and Sibanda blasted his shot straight down the middle and into the back of the net. Then a good dummy by Iain Boylan after a cross by Stuart Beveridge fooled the defence but resulted in his shot coming back off the post and Stuart Nicoll firing high. Cupar kept pressing right up until the break but failed to increase their slender lead before half time.

An early corner in the second half for Cupar resulted in a Scott McInroy effort going just past the post. Then Barry Sibanda did well to square to Stuart Nicoll but his 30 yard drive flew just over the bar. The same player had Cupar’s next effort on goal after 52 minutes with another rasping drive but it was well saved by Stephen Hamilton. The home side kept the pressure on with Iain Boylan heading the ball over. Kettle had an effort through veteran Neil Grewer who did well to volley but his spectacular effort was not to be. Cupar’s Stuart Beveridge soon found himself in acres of space and should have doubled the Hearts’ lead but he fired high and wide. Barry Sibanda was unlucky with two efforts on goal then soon after he collided with the Kettle keeper chasing after a loose ball and Stephen Hamilton came worse off, still hobbling after treatment. Cupar’s second goal came soon after when Stephen Gilfillan’s corner was punched off the line but the Cupar man was in the perfect position to see the ball had crossed the line. However Stuart Beveridge was on hand to blast the clearance into the roof of the net to remove all doubt. Cupar kept pressing for goal number 3 and it became too much for the Kettle keeper and he was replaced by another veteran Graeme Turnbull and his first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net. With 15 minutes to go Iain Boylan did excellently to neatly lob the ball over him from 25 yards following a corner kick. Cupar substitutes David Simpson and Stephen Kane entered the fray with Scott McInroy and Michael Reilly making way. Soon after, following a scramble Iain Boylan stabbed the ball in off the post to make it 4. Then one minute later captain Charles Anderson added to his tally for the season when he beat the offside trap and flicked the ball over the substitute keeper. Kettle rarely gave up the ghost but it was the homesters who had the last say with virtually the last kick of the game when following a neat move Barry Sibanda side footed easily past Graeme Turnbull for his second and a very comfortable win for Cupar. But credit to Kettle United who fought out the game but the Hearts defence should be commended for playing some excellent football in very difficult conditions.

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

Saturday 7th January 2012.

Fife Cup 2nd round.

Cupar started brightly in the opening stages and Stuart Nicoll was first to show in front of goal after 4 minutes but his attempt went high over. Then Barry Sibanda did well to earn a corner after the keeper couldn’t handle his shot but Cupar couldn’t capitalise. Star Hearts went straight on the break and a good long distance shot by Kenny Miller was excellently tipped over the bar by Steven McEwan. Cupar should have taken the lead moments later when Barry Sibanda had a free header but he put it wide. At the other end a clever flick by Steven Logie found Alan Binnie but his good first time shot was wide. Cupar had another excellent opportunity when Iain O’Leary found Michael Reilly out wide. He squared to Iain Boylan in front of goal but he fired wide. Cupar Hearts did open the scoring on 20 minutes. An excellent through ball by Stuart Beveridge found Barry Sibanda who fired home. Moments later the homesters were awarded a penalty after a foul by Martin Brown on Michael Reilly. Captain Charles Anderson stepped up and made no mistake from the spot. Star Hearts pulled a goal back before the break when Martin McConnell fired in a free kick which took a mischievous bounce in front of goal and went over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Star Hearts equalised 9 minutes into the second half when poor defending by Cupar failed to clear their lines and Steven Logie blasted in from close range. Cupar went back in front on the hour mark when an excellent through pass by Stuart Nicoll found Michael Reilly who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the goal. Goal number 4 came moments later when Iain Boylan’s shot curled into the top corner from long range. There was a welcome return for Scott McLean who replaced man of the match Michael Reilly for the last 10 minutes. With 5 minutes to go a cross by Steven Logie was put into his own net by Stephen Gilfillan as he tried to clear. It was a difficult game for Cupar but they did well to grind out a win.

Cupar Hearts: McEwan, Halley, McInroy, Anderson (C), Gilfillan, O’Leary, Boylan, Beveridge, Nicoll, Sibanda and Reilly. Subs: Rintoul, Fraser, McLean, Laing, McShane and Simpson.

We hope to see you back in 2012 when we return to action on the 7th of January (weather permitting!)

Ties to be played on 18/2/12

1.Bowhill Rovers v Eastvale
2.Bayside v Rosyth Civil Service
3.Balgonie Scotia v Strathmiglo United
4.Kennoway v St Andrews Uni
5.Lumphinnans United v Burntisland Shipyard
6.Pittenweem v Kirkcaldy Ym
7.Star Hearts/Cupar Hearts v Newburgh/Leven United
8.Lomond Vics v Dalgety Bay

4th Round

7 v 1
2 v 6
8 v 4
3 v 5

Saturday 12th November 2011.

Kingdom Caledonian League.

Cupar Hearts hosted bottom side Kinross and were looking to get back to winnings ways after their cup exit the previous week. Hearts welcomed back Scott McInroy and Charles Anderson into the centre of defence and were keen to keep a clean sheet.

Kinross were first to show in front of goal when a free kick sent in by Craig Lindsay brought the best out of keeper Steven McEwan who did well to tip the ball over. Michael Reilly had a good chance to opening the scoring but his shot hit the side netting. Hearts pressurised and they broke the deadlock on 26 minutes. Barry Sibanda did expertly when he lobbed the ball over the keeper, off the inside of the cross bar and into the net. Kinross hit back through Stuart McIntyre but his weak final shot was easily saved. Then Stuart Beveridge did well to set up Barry Sibanda after a good run when he squared the ball into the box but he blasted high over. With 5 minutes remaining a good Michael Reilly cross was met by Iain O’Leary but he headed over.

Cupar Hearts wasted no time getting the second half underway when they doubled their lead 3 minutes in. A good ball by Michael Reilly found Iain O’Leary out wide who did well to cut back. Barry Sibanda let the ball run into the path of Stuart Beveridge who blasted the ball home from the edge of the box. Moments later Stuart McIntyre and Craig Lindsay combined well for the visitors but Grant Fraser did enough and the keeper eventually gathered. Cupar went further ahead on 54 minutes through Michael Reilly. A perfectly placed Iain O’Leary cross was met with a glancing header into the top corner to make it 3. David Simpson replaced Iain O’Leary and started causing the Kinross defence some problems. On the hour mark a great first time cross by Grant Fraser was just too high for Barry Sibanda and Kinross cleared. Stuart Beveridge and Charles Anderson both had long distance efforts for Hearts but both were easily saved. With 8 minutes remaining Cupar scored goal number 4 and concluded the scoring. Substitute David Simpson did well to lob the out coming keeper and watch the ball roll into an empty. Iain Boylan would have the last say of the match when his free kick came crashing off the crossbar. It was a good victory for Hearts that take them top of the league.

Cupar: McEwan, Andersom (C), Fraser, McInroy, Halley, Beveridge, Nicoll, O’Leary, Boylan, Sibanda and Reilly. Subs: Simpson and McShane.