Kelty Hearts drew 1-1 with Queen of the South in the opening fixture of the Premier Sports Cup group stage. Following the 1-1 draw the two sides faced off in a penalty shoot out where after 6 penalties each Kelty gained the extra point by winning 4-3 in the shoot out.
The game started off very even with both sides playing safe not looking to concede the opening goal. In the 27th minute Ryan Shanley received the ball out wide, managed to take on his man and play the ball into the feet of Alex Ferguson in the middle of the park. Alex lifted his head and slotted the ball through to Ross Cunningham who took a touch on the turn to lay it off perfectly to strike the ball thunderously past the Queen of the South keeper.
It didn’t take long for Queen of the South to strike back as in the 30th minute Liam Smith received the ball to the right hand side of the 18 yard box, beating his man Callum Hannah to the touch line and put in a good cross, Jamie Smith attempted to come and collect the ball but it was an ambitious Nicky Clark who was first to it to dink the ball over Smith and into the back of the net to level the game.
Kelty had a few more chances before half time with Callum Flatman in the 37th minute getting on the end of a Ross Cunningham free kick but his header struck off the post and on the 43rd minute the ball is played through to Finn Moffett has the opportunity one on one with the goal keeper but the angle is just too tight for the young striker and the outstretched arm of the Queen of the South keeper managed to keep the ball out the net.
The second half was very end to end with the best chance of it coming from another through ball to Finn Moffett one on one but one touch too many saw the defender get back in time to clear it wide. A ball to the back post from Ross Cunningham saw Kallum Higginbotham’s header flash past the goal line but no one was there to tap it in to the empty net.
Following the ref’s full time whistle the game went to penalties where a new penalty hero emerged in the shape of Jamie Smith after Cunningham missed his first Penalty Smith kept Kelty in the shootout by making back to back saves. The goals continued for both sides until Jamie saved QOS’s 6th and final penalty to secure the bonus point.
Reflecting on the afternoon to Kelty Hearts TV, the returning Manager Thomas O’Ware said “I thought we were really good for where we are at in the season. I was really impressed with the boys especially in the first half, we were excellent in the first 45 minutes creating numerous chances.”
Written by: Ethan Cessford
Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)