PARS assistant boss Dave Mackay praised his side's response to falling a goal behind after they fought back to defeat Kelty Hearts.

Goals from Chris Kane and substitute, Matty Todd, turned the SPFL Trust Trophy tie around before half-time at KDM Group East End Park, after Craig Johnston had given Michael Tidser's League One leaders a 15th minute lead.

Kane, with his second goal in as many games, levelled eight minutes after the opener after an assist from Todd, who replaced Dapo Mebude, making his first Dunfermline start, in the 13th minute after he sustained a deep cut on his shin.

Midfielder Todd then went on to score his first goal of the season, finishing off a fine move that saw Joe Chalmers set him up, to put Athletic into the quarter-final draw for the competition, which takes place on Wednesday.

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"I thought we did respond really well," Mackay commented.

"Obviously losing Dapo early as well and the stoppage, and then conceding the goal, it wasn’t a great start for us, so the way we responded after that, I thought we did really well.

"We controlled the vast majority of the game and limited them to very little, to be honest. I was pleased with how we played from that point onwards after the goal.

"We could have done with a third goal. We did score a third one (Chris Kane saw an effort disallowed for offside) and it was very close. It possibly was just onside, when you're looking at the footage.

"It’s one of them where VAR would have to go into play, it was that tight, but it was a really good bit of play.

"I thought we had little passages of play that were really pleasing, with a lot of improvements in what we've seen in the last few weeks, in terms of looking after the ball.

READ MORE: Todd's on song as Pars net SPFL Trust Trophy quarter-final with Kelty derby win

"Obviously, when you get to the final third, you want to create a few more chances , and that final pass was missing, or the decision was maybe a little bit off.

"But we can't be too critical, I thought the players done really well.

"After going a goal behind I thought the response was excellent."

Kelty player / boss Tidser, who missed out with a calf issue picked up in last weekend's win at Queen of the South, praised Dunfermline's pressing as "better than most teams" his team have faced this term.

Although he felt they were "probably not as brave as we should be", he recognised selection issues facing his team, which saw them only able to name four substitutes.

Tidser was without on-loan goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams, and defender, Sam Harding, who were both cup-tied after playing for parent club Dundee United's 'B' side earlier in the tournament.

He was also without the likes of Luke McCarvel, Scott Allan, Lewis Moore and Adam Corbett, and he commented: "I thought we started the game really well, obviously got our goal, and then we have a wee dip.

"We're probably not as brave as we should be. To be fair, they're a good side, they press well, probably better than most teams in our league. But then, going into the second half, they dominated for larger spell, but in saying that,) I've literally got 14 players out there.

"My goalie's not played much, (Callum) Flatman's coming back, wee Billy's (Owens) not played much, Robbie Cole's not played, so, the positives for me today, as defeatist as it sounds, is getting through the game without any injuries and then the loan boys will come back next week, myself will come back.

"Listen, I don't like getting beat, but the boys done enough to show that, you know, they're good enough to come and play, and it's something for us to build on."