Stenhousemuir 2, Kelty Hearts 1

DESPITE last minute drama which saw Kelty miss a penalty, Hearts assistant boss Kevin McDonald conceded that it would have been “daylight robbery” had they salvaged a point.

Battling Kelty had the chance to grab a share of the spoils with a 92nd minute penalty but Ross Cunningham had his set piece saved which left his side pointless.

It had been a tough encounter with Stenny scoring a goal in each half.

A glimmer of hope was provided through a well taken Ross Cunningham goal with just 15 minutes to go but his penalty disappointment left the visitors defeated.

In a game where Kelty failed to get into any sort of rhythm, McDonald said his side deserved nothing from the tie.

“I think if we had nicked a point it would have been daylight robbery,” he said. “Stenhousemuir fully deserved the three points. We just weren’t at it. We couldn’t get going.

“We like to try and pass the ball and we couldn’t find any rhythm and if we had managed to score the penalty it would have been an injustice.

“We are just missing some big experienced players in the group. People like the manager not playing is massive and you have got your Scott Allans and Tam O’Wares who are so important to a small squad.

“The sooner they are back the better and it helps the young lads that are on loan and just need that voice in the pitch to guide them along.”

It was the home side who started the brightest and they came close just after 10 minutes when Matt Yates put in a cross come shot which was just wide of the post.

Minutes later, Stenhousemuir took the lead after a mix up which saw Brody Paterson lose possession in the box. The ball came to Euan O’Reilly and he struck the ball into the back of the net.

On 19 minutes, Kelty won their first corner of the game which saw Cunningham drive a shot in from the edge of the box. However Stenny keeper Darren Jamieson got down well and to collect the ball comfortably.

On 24 minutes, it was Kelty keeper Ruairidh Adams who had to be alert when the ball looped towards the goal. He rose to palm it over the bar.

He was called into action for the resulting corner and again tipped the ball over the bar from a Gregor Buchanan header.

Just before half time, good work between Mercer and Paterson saw the ball crossed in but the ball failed to find a Kelty player.

The action then switched as a long ball was played through to Stenny’s o’Reilly who found himself through on goal but his shot went wide.

The second half didn’t start well for Michael Tidser’s men. The home side won a corner in the 46th minute. It looked liked it had evaded everyone before Gregor Buchanan nodded the ball from the far post into the back of the net.

There could have been a third a minute later when Matthew Aitken rose for a header but Adams managed to get it away.

Lewis Moore then drove through the midfield and fired in a low drive but it wasn’t any real problem for the Stenny keeper.

On 57 minutes, Scott Mercer did well bringing down a cross pitch ball and turned to put in a curled effort from just outside the box but it went just wide.

Minutes later Moore did well running through the middle and got the ball to Scott Williamson who was fouled just on the edge of the box. The set piece was deflected for a corner which came to nothing.

Kelty pulled one back on 75 minutes after Luke McCarvel got the ball to Connor Allan who crossed but couldn’t find a white shirt. The ball came out to Ross Cunningham who fire a right foot shot straight into the goal.

Kelty had certainly stepped up a gear in the second half and the goal provided extra hope of a fight back for the visiting fans.

There was a chance for Kelty with eight minutes to go when sub Murray Thomas put in a cross which found the head of Rudi Bryce but the ball was straight into the arms of goalie Jamieson.

In the closing seconds, a handball in the box gave Kelty a last gasp chance however Cunningham’s ball was saved well by Jamieson who put the ball round for a corner kick which was cleared.

Kelty face a trip to Inverness next weekend where they are hoping fortunes may change against a side who just entered administration.

McDonald added: “It is a big game obviously. The league is so tight it is unbelievable. You can win a game and be top and you can lose and be seventh or eighth.

“We will prepare during the week and nothing will change fundamentally. We will try and pass the ball. Hopefully we will have some players back.

“Tam O’Ware has now served his suspension he will be ready to play next week and the manager is close. Maybe two out of seven will be back.”

Stenhousemuir

Jamieson, Meechan, Buchanan, Wedderburn, O’Reilly (Tomlinson 81), Berry, Aitken, Yates (Cameron 90), Bilham, Anderson, Ewen.

Subs: Lyle, O’Donnell.

Goals: O’Reilly (14), Buchanan (46)

Booked: Ewen, Wedderburn

Kelty Hearts

Adams, Paterson, Flatman, Johnston, Cunningham, McCarvel (Cole 78), Wiliamson (Owens 67) Mercer (Thomas 67), Moore (Bryce 67), Cleall-Harding, Allan.

Subs: Owens, Adamson, Strachan.

Goal: Cunningham (75)

Booked: Mercer, Cunningham, Flatman, Bryce

Referee: George Calder

Attendance: 546