Kelty Hearts net twice in two minutes to beat Annan Athletic

Kelty Hearts lead the way in League One but only on goal difference from Arbroath, with both sides locked on 22 points and a number of clubs below ready to pounce on any slip-up.

Michael Tidser's men had a mini slump last month with three successive defeats but were back with a bang in November and regained top spot thanks to back to back 2-0 wins.

The boss told Kelty Hearts TV: "I don't really look at the league table. I don't know if that sounds ridiculous or if other managers do it, but I genuinely don't because there's a fag paper between five, six, seven teams.

"The important thing for us, and I emphasise this to the lads all the time, is to concentrate on us and how we can grow as a team. I think we have.

"Arbroath have been excellent since the two lads (Colin Hamilton and David Gold) went in there.

"We went up there and beat them but they're a different side now."

Kelty's latest victory was at Galabank on Saturday and the points were as good as wrapped up by half-time thanks to two goals in two minutes from Scott Williamson and Connor Allan.

It could have been different as Annan's player-manager Willie Gibson, the ex-Dunfermline winger, had a great chance to put his team in front.

He robbed Billy Owens after the Hearts' man's heavy touch and rounded Tam O'Ware to go one-on-one with Ruairidh Adams, but he wastefully lifted the ball over the bar when he should have scored.

And they were punished when Williamson took advantage of hesitancy in the home ranks to plunder a goal in the 26th minute.

Brody Paterson's cross from the left wasn't cleared and the striker instantly gathered the ball and thumped a shot into the far corner.

Tidser said: "Scotty's an enigma, he's hot and cold. He's feeling his knee on Tuesday but then he goes and runs himself into the ground on Saturday.

"His goal was first class, it's a really good finish. I've said this before and I'll say it again, Scotty lives and breathes goals, that's all he thinks about, so for him to get another one will do his confidence the world of good."

Williamson then turned provider as Kelty stunned Annan with a quickfire second goal.

Snuffing out a home attack in the 27th minute, the ball broke to Lewis Moore who sent the striker scampering forward from the half-way line.

He held the ball up until sliding a perfect pass through to Allan who supplied the finish from close range - the Rangers loanee's first goal for Kelty.

The initial response from Annan didn't trouble Tidser's men too much, shots from distance that sailed over the bar and a free kick that came to nothing.

Hearts could have been three and easy, Jamie Smith spilled a cross from Craig Johnston but no-one in maroon was there to smash in the loose ball. After the break Williamson had a good chance to add to his eight goals for Kelty when Johnston picked the pocket of Gallagher Lennon on the right flank and rolled the ball into his path.

However, the on-loan Queen's Park hitman, who has now netted in back-to-back games for Hearts, duffed the shot and it lacked the power to beat the goalie.

Annan did threaten down the right and Aidan Smith was all alone waiting for the cross but the delivery was slightly behind him and he couldn't get his header on target.

There were a few more moments in attack for the home side but nothing to concern Adams as Tidser's men ran out comfortable winners to stay top of the pile.

The Kelty boss said: "The first 20-25 minutes Annan dominated the play without really hurting us.

"We go and get pressure on the ball in the middle of the park and it flips the game.

"I said to them at half-time that even though we were 2-0 up, I wasn't happy with the performance but I was obviously happy with the goals."

He added: "Once we did play I thought we looked good and we were a constant threat on the break.

"We got our goals at a good time, it took the sting out of the game for them, and second half was a really resolute, professional performance where we defended really well."