Peline's 80-second goal puts Kilwinning in driving seat as Kelty fail to take their chance

IT WAS the weekend when being called Rangers had a silver lining and, for the Kilwinning version, it was particularly fitting, their victory in yesterday's Scottish Junior Cup final coming only hours before their centenary dinner.

The one-sided confrontation many had predicted did not materialise and, like the senior final a day earlier, only one goal separated the sides.

For that, Kelty Hearts must take much of the credit as, after losing that goal after a mere 80 seconds, they failed to crumble like the overwhelming underdogs they had been dubbed before the match. However, that early strike was enough to make sure that the most prized possession in junior football was back in Kilwinning after a gap of 90 years.

Considering the cup had not been won by an Ayrshire club since Largs Thistle's victory in 1994, the confidence exuded by those from that part of the world in the weeks before the final was perhaps a tad over the top.

Indeed, the victory that confirmed that Ayrshire still has the strongest league in the junior game was achieved only after the kind of struggle that had those who had claimed that Kelty need not bother turning up choking on their words.

Kilwinning Rangers manager Bobby Dickson certainly sounded a mighty relieved man as he spoke after the final whistle, but any disappointment he harboured about his team's performance was dwarfed by his delight at not only delivering his club's second junior cup triumph, and in their centenary year, but by adding to his own record of being involved in five finals and not losing one.

He said: ''It was a pathetic performance. We have not played as badly as that all season.

''That bit of cup final luck I seem to have ran for us today. People are telling me that we won it comfortably, but every ball into our box is a panic when you are sitting in the dugout.''

Now he was looking forward to a centenary party with the most fitting guest of honour of all, the OVD Junior Cup. ''I remember the first time we paraded the cup in Cumnock and Auchinleck, there were just a sea of bodies,'' he recalled. ''When we take it down the streets of Kilwinning, it will be a sight to behold.''

While The Buffs' left Partick Thistle's Firhill Stadium complete with their silver fig-leaf, it wasn't just the lack of a roof that made Kelty's open-top bus seem somewhat naked on the way home to Fife. Despite those who tried to bad-mouth the quality of Fife junior football, they had come with genuine belief that they could win, and left with their pride intact and having enhanced the reput-ation of the league they represent.

Testament to their own, somewhat quieter, self-confidence was borne out by the disappointment written in red all over Kelty manager Rab Morris's face. Like his opposite number, he pointed out that the first goal was always vital in cup finals, as had been the case the day before as Rangers defeated Celtic at Hampden.

Morris added: ''To go behind after only a couple of minutes was a real sickener, but after that they did not pose any real threat. I am very proud of my players and they have shown today that Fife junior football is on the up and up.

''I always knew that Kilwinning's strengths were their battling qualities and defending and it was always going to difficult to come back. The ball just did not fall

for us today and, as happened between Celtic and Rangers, the winner came out of nothing and you cannot legislate against that.''

The wall of sound from both sets of fans that greeted the kick- off had hardly died down before Kelty's hopes took a severe knock. A speculative ball into their box struck the back of

Norrie Montgomery, who had been searching for his fiftieth goal of the season, and straight into the path of his strike partner, Peline.

The man who sounds like a cross between a French tennis player and a piece of chocolate struck a half volley that hit goalkeeper John Lister's fingertips like a net-cord, jumped into the air then nestling sweetly, in Peline's opinion, on the right side of the net - and over the goal-line.

It was a heartbreaking moment for the Fife fans within the crowd of more than 8000 who had turned up in their thousands to witness Kelty in their first-ever final.

However, their team never

buckled and went on to play the more fluid, passing game. Even so, this is junior football and, even before kick off Kilwinning looked the fitter, more athletic side. So it proved and their more direct approach, more in keeping with the rough and tumble reputation of this level of football, won the day.

Morris had built an experienced team, two of whom surpassed 40, combining seasoned juniors with a number who had played at senior level. The way they took the game to Kilwinning had the Ayrshire side on the back foot for much of the match, but it was still the eventual winners who created most of the few chances that were created in the Glasgow sunshine.

Former Dundee United, Hib-ernian, and Luton Town defender Dave Beaumont, shaking off injury to perhaps make his big-time finale at 35, created the best opening for Kelty with an accurate cross. However, the unmarked

former Dunfermline and St Johnstone striker, Craig Reynolds, headed over from 12 yards.

As Kelty pushed their veteran legs further and further forward, gaps were left at the back and it was Beaumont to the rescue as he cleared a Montgomery shot off the line after a quick Kilwinning break.

Kelty's lack of penetration left them resorting to trying their luck from long range and midfielder Calum Chalmers almost sparked a Manchester United-style comeback with a late, 25-yard effort that flew just over.

However, it was to be Kilwinning's day in the sun and Fife must wait for another time to add to their three junior cup successes, but they can take heart from the words of the winning manager, who suggested that the teams who win the cup tend to be those who have done well, and not quite made it, in previous seasons.

As Kilwinning held aloft the trophy, it was fitting that they were not only greeted by a sea of blue and white from their own support, but from a large contingent in the maroon of Kelty, sportsmanship in stark contrast to the half empty Hampden that applauded the big Rangers 24 hours earlier.

Kelty Hearts - Lister, Baillie, Arnott, Leighton, McKillop, Beaumont, Spence, Chalmers, Reynolds, Moffat, Heddle. Substitures - Bowman, Logan, Tanner, Harris, Dunlop.

Kilwinning Rangers - Robertson, Gallacher, Mullin, Cameron, Currie, Farrell, Duffy, Sloan, Peline, Montgomery, McTurk. Substitute - McLuckie, Sharkey, Edmiston, Harkness, Jardine.

Referee - C MacKay (Cumbernauld).