KELTY HEARTS star Joe Cardle has been named as the PFA Scotland League Two Player of the Year.

The 35-year-old former Pars ace received the honour last night (Sunday) at the organisation's annual awards ceremony, ahead of team-mates Michael Tidser and Jamie Barjonas, and Annan Athletic's Owen Moxon.

Cardle, who signed for the New Central Park club last summer after leaving Partick Thistle, has enjoyed his most productive season in front of goal, hitting the net 16 times from 46 games in all competitions.

His contribution helped Kelty to win League Two at the first time of asking, having won promotion to the SPFL 12 months ago, as they ended the campaign with 81 points.

Nominees were decided by votes from players across the SPFL, with skipper Tidser, and fellow midfielder Barjonas, also being shortlisted.

Cardle and Barjonas, alongside goalkeeper Darren Jamieson, defenders Tam O'Ware and Jordon Forster, and forward Nathan Austin, were also named in the League Two team of the year, which was announced before the awards ceremony.

Cardle, Jamieson, Forster and Barjonas all played a part in Kelty's final game of the League Two season on Saturday, which ended in a 2-1 win at play-off bound Annan Athletic.

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An unfortunate Thomas Reilly own goal - a header that looped over goalkeeper Jamieson in attempting to deal with Chris Johnston's cross - put the home side ahead midway through the first half, but that was cancelled out by Kallum Higginbotham's sweet strike, his ninth goal of the season, on the half hour mark.

On the stroke of half-time, Kelty found themselves ahead thanks to a fine Alfredo Agyeman strike from around 20 yards, a lead which they held to earn their 24th victory from 36 games played.

Galabank was the scene of Kelty's first league defeat of the season - a 5-1 loss on Boxing Day - but they were applauded onto the pitch as champions by their hosts, who are heading into the League One play-offs.

Annan, who named boss Peter Murphy on their bench, were seeking to finish second and claim home advantage for the second leg of their semi-final tie with Forfar Athletic, whilst the visitors were seeking to end the campaign with a total of 81 points, and with 11 wins on the road.

It was a strong line-up selected by Kelty boss Kevin Thomson, with three of their starting line-up - Daniel Finlayson, Kieran Ngwenya and Max Kucheriavyi - all saying their goodbyes to the club, as they prepare to return to parent clubs St Mirren, Aberdeen and St Johnstone after successful loan stints.

Dougie Hill, who scored Kelty's goal in last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Forfar, on the day the men in maroon received the trophy, started what could prove to be his final match before retiring from the game, while the club have confirmed that contract talks are underway with Barjonas, Andrew Black, Josh Donaldson and Botti Biabi.

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Boss Thomson is already looking towards next season and, perhaps predictably, this had the feel of an end-of-season encounter in the early stages.

Barjonas had the contest's first effort at goal a quarter-of-an-hour in, driving over the top with a long-range strike, but it was Annan who struck first midway through the opening period.

It was an unfortunate moment for Reilly - the midfielder had got himself into a good defensive position to get his head to Johnston's cross - but was unfortunate to see his clearing header loop over Jamieson and into the net.

That advantage, however, was short-lived when Kelty equalised on the half hour.

Good combination play between Higginbotham and Kucheriavyi eventually saw the ball worked to the Englishman at the edge of the box, who didn't need time to think about what he was doing as he sent a crisply-struck, curling finish into helpless goalkeeper Greg Fleming's left-hand corner.

Kucheriavyi then sent a free-kick into the wall after Jordon Forster was fouled outside the Annan penalty area, before Higginbotham again tried his luck, but Fleming was equal to his shot.

The Kelty goalscorer then forced Fleming into a much smarter stop moments, later, with a snap-shot at the near post, before Barjonas saw an attempt deflected wide for a corner as the visitors ended the first half strongly.

And they would cap with a goal - and it was another excellent effort.

Agyeman, on his right foot, sent as crisp and as accurate a strike from 20 yards as you could wish to see, sending it arrowing past Fleming and into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The home side subbed Steven Swinglehurst at the break for Roan Steele, then lost League Two player of the year nominee Owen Moxon - who will go up against Joe Cardle, Barjonas and Kelty captain, Michael Tidser, for the award at the PFA Scotland awards dinner this evening - to injury, but ex-Hearts star, Scott Hooper, tried to bring them level but volleyed well wide.

Ngwenya, from left full back, had an opportunity to grab his first Kelty goal on the hour mark when Finlayson picked him out at the far post with a cross from the right, but he volleyed a difficult chance over, before Annan substitute Aidan Smith - one of three brought on moments before Ngwenya's effort - came close by running forward and shooting wide from the edge of the box.

Goalscorer Agyeman, and Black, were replaced in the 66th minute by Cardle and Biabi as Thomson freshened up his pack for the final period the game before Hooper, with a back-flick header, was unfortunate to see the ball land wide of target for the Galabankies, although Jamieson appeared to have it covered.

Both Ngwenya and Reilly almost got on the end of a Cardle centre across the area as the visitors sought a third goal, but there was a nice moment moments later when Hill, as he was being substituted, received a standing ovation from those on the visiting bench.

A foul on Kucheriavyi presented Cardle with an opportunity to strike from a set-piece with five minutes to go, which Fleming held comfortably, while Higginbotham wasn't too far away with a fierce drive after being found by Cardle.

They had, though, done enough to end an historic campaign with another win as they begin to look ahead to the challenge of League One football next season.

Match stats

Annan Athletic: G. Fleming, Barnes, Lowdon, Moxon (Wallace 52), Hooper, Swinglehurst (Steele 45), K. Fleming, Docherty, Garrity (Smith 60), Goss (Anderson 60), Johnston (McCartney 60).

Subs not used: Murphy, Adamson.

Goal: Reilly (OG, 22)

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Finlayson (Philp 62), Black (Cardle 66), Hill (Cameron 78), Forster, Ngwenya, Reilly (Clark 78), Barjonas, Higginbotham, Kucheriavyi, Agyeman (Biabi 66).

Subs not used: Peggie, Donaldson.

Goals: Higginbotham (30), Agyeman (45).

Booked: Cameron (79).

Referee: Barry Cook.

Attendance: 431.

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