Rangers hero Barry Ferguson moved closer to a big achievement as Kelty Hearts manager after his team recorded an emphatic playoff win over Brora Rangers across two legs.
Kelty earned the right to face Highland League winners Brora after being crowned Lowland League champions via the points per game method in late March, but they were made to wait a long time before the tie was finally given the go-ahead.
The preparations of both teams were disrupted as a result but Ferguson’s men dealt with the situation well.
They won the first leg 2-0 at Brora in midweek before dishing out a 4-1 hammering in the second on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors took the lead through Greg Morrison in the 27th minute but Kelty equalised quickly through Nathan Austin, who went on to score a hat-trick, before Dylan Easton completed the scoring in injury time.
Kelty’s reward is a chance to make it into the SPFL via a two-leg playoff against Brechin City – who finished bottom of League Two – later this month.
Successfully guiding Kelty into the pyramid despite all the challenges they have faced over the past two seasons would constitute a significant achievement for Ferguson, who was appointed in 2018.
The 43-year-old Ibrox hero had previously managed Clyde from 2014 to 2017 following a stint as caretaker boss at Blackpool.
In other news, one of Rangers’ partner clubs look set to fail again this season as their major struggles continue.
