Kelty Hearts 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

KELTY HEARTS maintained their unbeaten start to League One after a hard-fought draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle this afternoon.

The hosts, who lost player / manager, Michael Tidser, and captain, Tam O'Ware, to injuries during the first half, have made it four games without defeat, with two wins and two draws.

It was also a third successive clean sheet for the 'Maroon Machine', who started the day ahead of Queen of the South on goal difference to top the table, and they were well worth their point against Duncan Ferguson's side.

"Don't get me wrong, first half, I probably thought we maybe created the better chances, without anything clear-cut, maybe with longer-range shots," Tidser said.

"They had a great chance with Billy McKay, he skies it, puts it over the bar, which you'd usually expect him to score, but the game was a bit open, a bit stretched. There wasn't a lot of quality, it was more a battling performance, but, listen, it's a point.

"It's a point, it's another clean sheet, so, overall, I'm pleased."

Kelty went into the game sitting proudly at the summit, with seven points from their first three games, and were seeking a third successive victory.

They made one enforced change from last weekend's super win at Arbroath, with Lewis Moore, who was forced off in that match, missing out, with Luke McCarvel coming in.

Duncan Ferguson named former Pars midfielder, Paul Allan, on his Inverness bench after completing a deal for the 24-year-old ahead of kick-off, following his summer departure from KDM Group East End Park.

The relegated Highlanders have had a summer of turmoil off the pitch, with former chairman, Alan Savage, appointed to take charge of the club last week amidst financial difficulties.

Inverness could have been training at New Central Park this season - they had an agreement in place - but that was scrapped over a backlash from their supporters, who travelled to Fife in healthy numbers.

They had watched their team draw two and lose one of their three League One games so far, to sit seventh ahead of kick-off for their first-ever league meeting with Kelty, although the teams had previously met in the Premier Sports Cup two years ago.

The visitors' Jake Davidson had the game's opening effort, which trundled to Ruairidh Adams in the home goal, before Scott Williamson saw a shot touched around the post by Caley number one, Musa Diagba.

He then had to be alert to push a Luke McCarvel drive wide before doing well to beat away a fierce effort Ross Cunningham effort from distance.

Adams then did well to deny Keith Bray on the follow-up, after spilling a shot from Adam MacKinnon, but visiting striker McKay had his side's best chance on the stroke of half-time.

From Davidson's pick out at the edge of the area, the experienced frontman spooned his first-time effort high over the bar, when you'd have backed him to hit the target.

O'Ware, who had taken a knock early in the half, was forced off with a dead leg at the break, which came after Tidser had to be susbtituted shortly before the interval with a muscle problem.

Kelty, however, responded well to those injury setbacks to withstand whatever Inverness had to go at them with in the second period.

MacKinnon, twice, blazed well over, whilst Charlie Gilmour headed wide from a corner after substitute, Murray Thomas, had produced a brilliant tackle to prevent an even better scoring chance moments prior.

Cunningham fired off-target with a free-kick from an ambitious distance for the hosts, and Scott Allan curled wide, before Paul Allan side-footed wide for Inverness after coming on as a substitute for his debut.

Neither team, however, could break the deadlock as Kelty's unbeaten - and impressive - start to the League One campaign continued.

Kelty Hearts: Adams, Paterson, O'Ware (Thomas 45), Flatman, Allan, Johnston, Cunningham, Tidser (B. Owens 45), McCarvel, Williamson, Mercer.

Subs not used: Miller, L. Owens, Adamson.

Booked: Paterson (37), Mercer (45), B. Owens (90).

Inverness CT: Dibaga, W. Duffy (Brooks 62), F. Duffy, Savage, Devine, Gilmour, A. MacKinnon, McKay, MacLeod (Allan 73), Bray.

Subs not used: M. MacKinnon, Strachan, MacKay, Walker, Thompson, Corner, Ferguson.

Booked: W. Duffy (31).

Referee: George Calder.

Attendance: 692.