KELTY HEARTS opened their pre-season schedule with defeat to Livingston but player / manager Michael Tidser said he "a lot of signs" he was pleased with.

The Championship side, relegated from the top flight last season, recorded a comprehensive 5-1 win at New Central Park, with all-but one of the goals coming after half-time.

The hosts fielded three summer arrivals - goalkeeper, Ryan Adamson, defender, Callum Flatman, and attacking midfielder, Robbie Cole - as well as a trialist midfielder.

Brody Paterson, who has agreed a one-year deal after leaving Hartlepool United, following a successful loan at the club last season, also played, as did Billy Owens and Tam O'Ware, who have both re-signed for the upcoming campaign.

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A further six trialists were on the bench, including another goalkeeper, with Tidser revealing post-match that last season's number one, Kyle Gourlay, has departed the club after taking up a full-time job offshore.

Livi, who played four trialists from the start, had the early chances with one of those, Liam Sole, cracking the crossbar.

They took the lead six minutes before the break when the Sole's cross was headed home at the back post by Robbie Muirhead, before a role reversal saw the Lions increase their lead six minutes into the second half.

Livingston struck five goals at New Central Park.Livingston struck five goals at New Central Park. (Image: David Wardle.)

Another of the away side's trialists added well-taken third in the 64th minute, before Michael Nottingham headed home a corner three minutes later to make it 4-0.

With 10 minutes left, another trialist added a fifth when he poked the ball beyond the outrushing Adamson, before Kelty got themselves on the scoresheet with a consolation.

Three of their substitute trialists were involved, with trialist 'D' producing good play on the right to cross and, after trialist 'C' connected, and was denied by the goalkeeper, but trialist 'B' was there to prod home from close range.

"I know it's the old saying, but it genuinely was about getting minutes. That's our first game," Tidser told Press Sport.

"You can see we put out a lot of young kids towards the end, and the goals we lose are things we should manage better, but Livingston are a good side. I think they've been back now for the best part of a month, and have played three or four games, so for us it was just about getting your movements, getting your touches, getting your awareness.

"I saw a lot of signs I was pleased with, but the scoreline's the scoreline. It's fine - we'll get better and prove it over the coming weeks.

"We've had four sessions, there's a lot of new boys. You're trying to implement your style but it's difficult when you've got them for four hours a week.

"I saw enough that fills me with a wee bit of hope going into the cup games, the real stuff really."

He added: "We're three or four boys short as well. We're trying to do business behind the scenes, and it's hard, but we'll get there over the next coming weeks.

"There's three or four boys that came on towards the end there that I only spoke to, some yesterday, some today, about coming in and playing.

"That's what you've got to do. We're not a club that can go and spend loads of money, so you've got to try and look for wee gems.

"You probably saw it with the boy Robbie Cole who we've managed to sign. We got him from Civil (Service Strollers), we had him in training, he's done really well, and they're the gems you want to try and find."