Elgin City stormed into the fourth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup after a thrilling 3-2 victory over League 1 leaders Kelty Hearts at Borough Briggs
Elgin City are dreaming of a lucrative draw in the Scottish Cup after reaching round four with a thrilling victory over Kelty Hearts.
City go into the hat with Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen on Monday night, reward for a superb 3-2 success on Saturday against the League 1 leaders.
Ryan Sargent produced his finest day in a City shirt with two goals and a man of the match display in the victory.
Elgin, wearing their away colours of red and black in a home match, started well with Dajon Golding, Russell Dingwall and Jack Murray all having efforts on goal in the opening minutes.
In the third meeting between the teams this season, Kelty grew into the contest with Callum Flatman heading wide and City keeper Aidan Glavin saving well from Scott \Williamson’s shot on the turn.
A terrific goal broke the deadlock for the home side two minutes before half time.
Owen Cairns picked the ball up deep on the right and delivered a superb cross towards the back post and Sargent rose to deliver a perfect header beyond the keeper high into the net.
Golding fired wide at the start of the second half but Kelty were level just before the hour mark.
Ross Cunningham’s free kick from deep on the right was met by an acrobatic Flatman header to give Glavin no chance.
The visitors sensed that they had a chance to go on and win it and enjoyed a good spell of pressure, but Elgin refused to buckle.
The introduction of sub Dylan Gavin on 72 minutes for Kian Leslie proved pivotal.
Within rwo minutes City almost went in front from a piece of brilliance by Golding in controlling and volleying a Mark Gallagher cross off the bar.
Three minutes later the Black and Whites did regain their advantage, as they hit Kelty on the break and Golding’s strong run set up a shooting chance for supersub Gavin, who rifled a stunning low strike inside the far post.
Instead of sit on their lead, City went about extending it and Gavin was instrumental in getting his team a third goal on 83 minutes.
Chasing a long ball down the right he showed great strength to win possession and advance before laying the ball across the edge of the six yard box for Sargent to steer home his second.
There was a late twist as Kelty were awarded a penalty five minutes from time for Kyle Girvan’s shove on Craig Johnston.
On-loan Kilmarnock keeper Glavin couldn’t repeat his heroics of the previous round against Clyde when he saved six spot kicks, this time beaten by a clinical Cunningham effort into the top corner.
However, Elgin stood up defiantly to the Fifers’ push for an equaliser with Gavin firing a great chance just wide on the break.
A 716 crowd roared the home team to victory and into the final 32, where they will find out their opponents in Monday night’s draw.
Elgin: Glavin, Cairns, Girvan, Murray, Booth, Gallagher, Cameron, Leslie (Gavin 72), Dingwall (Hyde 81), Sargent, Golding (McDonald 90).
Subs: MacEwan, Parton, McDonald, Fraser, MacDonald, Taylor
Kelty: Adamson, Mercer (Thomas 56), O’Ware, Flatman, Paterson, Allan (Bryce 89), Macintyre, Cunningham, Johnston, Williamson (Cole 79), Moore.
Subs: Owens, McGurn.
Referee: G Calder
Att: 716
