Hearts remain top of the pack after win at Leven

Cupar Hearts 2

After an impressive 4-0 victory over local rivals Auchtermuchty last week, Cupar Hearts turned their attention to fellow title contenders Leven United as they travelled in search of three points to keep them top of the table.

Hearts were boosted by the return of Richie Lawson from injury, and he made his presence felt with only six minutes on the clock.

Good play saw Lee Sibanda cut back for Lawson to fire into the bottom corner to give Cupar the lead.

Then a free kick just outside the box saw Sibanda curl the ball in for Kyle Baker, whose headed effort just went wide.

A scramble in the box on 17 minutes was somehow kept out and Leven were quick to counter. They won a corner and keeper Dale Wotherspoon made a great save from a low drive.

Back at the other end, a Jamie Leslie shot from a poor clearance skimmed the top of the cross bar.

Cupar went into the break with their slender lead but it wouldn’t last long as, eight minutes into the second half, the hosts levelled.

Hearts kept pressing, determined to find a winner, and Scott McBride flicked the ball to Richie Lawson but his shot went straight to the keeper.

Then a free kick from McBride was expertly tipped over the bar but Hearts couldn’t capitalise from the resultant corner.

Cupar grabbed the winner from the penalty spot after a foul on Lee Sibanda. Scott McBride stepped up and blasted the ball home.

Leven were not down and out and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when they fired a good shot into the side netting.

Cupar had to endure an additional six minutes before the final whistle, which saw Hearts keep their 100 per cent winning record.