cinch SPFL League Two: Elgin City 2 Kelty Hearts 0

KELTY HEARTS were brought back to down to earth following their Scottish Cup exploits after Elgin City inflicted their second league defeat yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

The leaders were looking to go 10 points clear at the top of League Two – in a game rearranged after being postponed last month – but, in a performance assistant boss Kevin McDonald described to Press Sport as "really disappointing", Kane Hester's double gave the home side a valuable victory in their bid to push into the promotion play-off places.

It was a tough night for the visitors following their heroic victory over holders St Johnstone at the weekend but McDonald said they "can't make any excuses" and need to "grind these games out" if they are to go and seal their primary objective of being crowned champions.

Kelty manager Kevin Thomson made two changes to his starting line-up, with Andrew Black and Robbie McNab coming in for Daniel Finlayson and Ross Philp, and went close when Jordon Forster flashed a header wide midway through the half.

Elgin, though, took the lead eight minutes before the break when Hester collected Darryl McHardy's pass before slotting the ball beyond goalkeeper Darren Jamieson.

With 15 minutes to go, the Borough Briggs hosts put the contest beyond doubt when Hester, once again fed by McHardy, added his and City's second and leave Kelty with no way back.

"It was really disappointing," McDonald said.

"We looked tired and as though we had a bit of a hangover from the weekend. We couldn't seem to get going. We didn't test their goalkeeper after they scored.

"You probably couldn't have hand-picked a worse game on a Tuesday night after going to extra time against a Premiership team in the cup on Saturday. It brought us banging back down to earth.

"We can't make excuses. If you want to win league titles, you have to grind these games out.

"We understand where we are and we need to look at what went wrong and look to bounce back against Stranraer on Saturday."

The Maroon Machine face two home league fixtures – the second of which is against Elgin – before their fifth-round Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren but McDonald wants all focus to be on those rather than the game in Paisley.

"Our league form since the turn of the year has been disappointing," he continued.

"We've dropped more points in the last four games than we'd done in the rest of the season. It's nice to have a cup run, and get all the plaudits, but our main focus is to win the league.

"Six points from our next two games, against Stranraer and Elgin, is a must."

Speaking to his club's video channel post-match, Thomson described the match as "rubbish" from his point of view, adding: "We were miles off it and second-best to everything.

"They were miles better than us, Elgin. Second balls, organisation, even the way they handled the conditions. It's tough when you get beat. You've got to take it on the chin; it's got to hurt."

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, McNab (Philp 45), Forster, O'Ware (Finlayson 82), Ngwenya, Black (Agyeman 45), Barjonas, Tidser, Cardle (Biabi 70), Higginbotham, Austin. Subs not used: Peggie, Hooper, Donaldson.

* You can read interviews with Thomson and Kallum Higginbotham following the St Johnstone win in tomorrow's Press.