Kelty Hearts draw at Dumbarton to stay top of SPFL League One

KELTY HEARTS remain at the top of League One and unbeaten but a late leveller left them feeling frustrated at Dumbarton on Saturday.

Goals from Luke McCarvel and Craig Johnston, either side of Mark Durnan's counter, looked to have handed Michael Tidser's team a third win of the season.

However, the former Dunfermline defender struck for a second time, in the last minute of the game, to earn the Sons a share of the spoils.

Kelty, who have nine points from their first five outings, lead the way from Stenhousemuir and Alloa Athletic on goal difference, and player / manager Tidser told Kelty Hearts TV: "You ask any manager, especially with the turnover of a few players coming in, there's a few leaving, and you just basically want to hit the ground running.

"Obviously the League Cup campaign was a wee bit up and down. We managed a few good results, and there were a few poor results, but our bread and butter's the league campaign.

"To be sitting here after five games undefeated is a good start, but I know how difficult the league is.

As I've said before, anybody can beat anybody, so that's probably another thing that's probably frustrating me when I was walking off the park because, coming to Dumbarton, it's not easy.

"They're a good side. They're a really good side - well organised, they're big, they're physical, they can play.

"If we'd managed to get the three points it would've been a real jag in the arm, but it was unfortunate it wasn't be today."

The visitors made a dream start after just 10 minutes when they took the lead.

McCarvel, after receiving the ball just inside the Dumbarton half, skipped beyond Michael Miller and drove into the box.

After cutting back onto his right foot to move away from Craig McGuffie, he then found the far corner via a deflection.

The visitors had opportunities to increase their lead - Ross Cunningham drove just over from range, whilst Scott Williamson was denied by a smart Brett Long stop, before he shot inches wide of the far post - but were stung when Durnan nodded in a McGuffie corner just before the break.

With an hour on the clock, Kelty were back in front when Scott Allan's pass in behind Durnan found Johnston, who took a touch before betting Long from the edge of the six-yard box for his first goal of the season.

Craig Johnston netted his first goal of the season to put Kelty ahead for a second time on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

However, they were denied victory in the final minute when another McGuffie corner was met by Durnan, after keeper Ruairidh Adams couldn't claim, to nod into the net.

"I thought probably a draw was a fair result," Tidser said.

"In the first 10-15 minutes we probably could've been two or three up.

"Wee Luke takes his goal brilliantly. He skips by a few and it's something that I've said to him, he needs to add have that composure in front of goal, and he does it.

"To then lose a goal from a set play, and then equally the second goal from a set play, is really frustrating.

"In terms of the overall game, I thought in spells we were really good. As I say, first half, I reckon if we score the second, you're potentially scoring three or four, but it wasn't to be.

"The lads were great. I thought defensively we were really, really good today, albeit we lost two goals from set plays, I mean in terms of during the game, I was really pleased, and we always had that threat.

"A point on the road is never a bad point. We take it and we move on to next week."