East Kilbride...4 Kelty Hearts...0
Cammy Russell insists East Kilbride sent a statement to their play-off rivals with their resounding victory over Kelty Hearts.
Four days on from clinching the league title, the striker hit a hat-trick as Kilby sent Barry Ferguson’s side home to Edinburgh with their tails between their legs.
Kelty were touted as title-rivals to Kilby this season, but the hosts made light work of the side sitting third in the table, 18 points further back.
East Kilbride are set to face Highland League champions-elect Cove Rangers in the SPFL play-off semi-finals on April 27 and May 4.
And as Kilby look forward to a crack at promotion, Russell said: “We wanted to go out and make a statement and show we are ready for the play-offs. I think we did that.
“We know the league is won, obviously, but we don’t want to stop there.
“Everyone is playing for their place and, like we showed on Saturday, whoever steps into the squad can do a job.”
East Kilbride leave it late to clinch Lowland League title
Kilby took the lead after 19 minutes when Russell played a one-two with Longworth on the edge of the box and fired a rasping strike past the Kelty keeper.
Five minutes before the break Russell produced another fine finish to double the lead, taking a touch out wide and thumping the ball into the net.
Longworth got in on the act after 75 minutes when he managed to scramble the ball home from a corner.
Russell sealed his hat-trick two minutes later when he latched on to Anton Brady’s pass and kept his cool to slide the ball past the keeper.
The on-loan Airdrie striker netted his first EK goals since scoring in a 5-0 win over Gretna on his debut back in January.
“I came here to score goals, so to get a hat-trick on Saturday was actually a bit of a relief,” he admitted.
“I’ve chipped in with a lot of assists, but I hadn’t scored since my debut so it was a good feeling.
“When I joined, the play-offs was what I wanted to be involved in, so it’s great to get there and have that to look forward to now.”
NUMBERS GAME
1 - Games Kilby lost on their way to the title, the only blemish being a 3-1 defeat away to Civil Service Strollers
2 - Lowland League titles East Kilbride have won in the last three seasons
3 - East Kilbride became the third side to win the Lowland League twice, joining Spartans and Edinburgh City. And the trio are the only sides to win the trophy since the league’s inception in the 2013/14 season.
4 - Play-off games East Kilbride must come through to earn promotion to the Scottish Professional Football League
East Kilbride star Winter in wonderland as his goal wins Lowland title
