Boss Grant Brough hails 'seven-goal swing' as Kirkcaldy & Dysart beat Preston Athletic

Leading 1-0 at half-time to a fine lob by Jack O’Donnell, Grant Brough’s side sealed the win in the second half thanks to Joe Cunningham’s volleyed effort and a fine third when O’Donnell headed home a Cunningham cross.

“I was delighted with the quality of our goals,” Brough told the Fife Free Press. “The victory was thoroughly deserved.

"We had a wrong to right against them as they beat us a few weeks ago and the scoreline for them on that previous occasion looked a lot more convincing than the reality.

"We were spurred on by that to go out and play the way that we did on Saturday.

"We’re at home to Whitburn in the third round now and that will be a tough match. But it’s one that’s winnable.

"We should be looking at that and thinking that we have every chance to go through.

"We will definitely be up for that tie.”

Kirkcaldy & Dysart – who have 23 points from 22 matches – are currently only above the first division relegation zone on goal difference from Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare who have played two more matches.

So this Saturday’s fixture for Brough’s men – a league contest at 10th-placed Bathgate Thistle which kicks off at 2.30pm – looks to be a crucial one in their attempts to climb away from the danger area.

"Winning that cup tie definitely gives us more confidence going into the game this weekend as we’re back on track,” Brough said.

"Previously we had obviously won three games in a row but came unstuck against Preston (in the league) and Crossgates.

"But, as I said to the boys, we conceded quite a few goals in those games but when you actually break it down – and we did the analysis of the game – there was nothing in it possession wise, passes completed, shots on goal between the teams in the two games. It was very similar.

"The opposition teams just kind of took their chances in those games.

"It’s not as if we played terribly. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying we played great, you don’t get beaten and play great.

"It’s not all doom and gloom, put it that way, even with getting those defeats.

"Getting a win on Saturday just reiterates what we’re doing and the boys have been brilliant.

"I’m looking at teams like Bathgate and Tynecastle (who are 12th in the table on 26 points from 24 leagues fixtures) and Whitehill Welfare (11th with 27 points from 23 matches) and thinking: ‘We can catch these guys’.

"We are saying: ‘Who can we catch’ rather than looking over our shoulders.

"And I don’t know what’s going to happen with the league now that Bo’ness Athletic (of the EoS Premier Division) declared that they’re going defunct at the end of the season. That could affect the number of teams relegated from our division but you never know with the East of Scotland League.”