East Kilbride v Hearts B: Kennedy calls on Kilby to strengthen grip on Lowland League top spot

East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy hopes his side can take a big stride towards the Lowland League title on Saturday by downing Hearts B in a top-of-the-table clash.

The unbeaten league leaders can open up an 11-point gap at the summit – with two games in hand – if they can sink the young Jambos at K-Park.

Hearts B sit second on goal difference from third place Cumbernauld Colts, who both sit eight points adrift of Kilby on 33 points, and Kennedy knows it is a massive opportunity to take control of the fifth tier before November is out.

He said: “I’ve always said you don’t win anything in November and we’d only really assess things when we are halfway through [17 games] and if we can win on Saturday we are another step closer to that.

“If we can go and beat Hearts, we will be in a really strong position going into the second part of the season and that’s what we’ll be aiming for.

“But we know it will be difficult.

“Like all the B teams, they are full of youth and enthusiasm and have a lot of legs in the team.

“Hearts are where they are on merit and it will be a good game.

“No disrespect to them, but I don’t think many people would have expected them to be second in the league.

“I think most would have expected Celtic to be there rather than where they are [10th], so they deserve a lot of credit for being so consistent throughout the season.

“They are very expansive and attacking so I am looking forward to it.”

Kilby have won 13 times and drawn twice on their impressive league run and Kennedy says the squad will be getting even stronger now some injured stars are on the way back.

Midfielder Callum Biggar was back from a broken collarbone for Saturday’s 5-2 South Challenge Cup win, scoring the third goal and winning a