It’s a quick turnover from the heroics of Saturday’s win against Hibernian as we prepare to welcome Peterhead to New Central Park.  This will be both our and Peterhead’s third match of the Premier Sports Cup group stage.  Our win on Saturday sees the Maroon Machine up to second in the group with four points, with the chance to leapfrog leaders Hibs with a win against tonight’s opponents.

Our visitors come off the back of a 4-2 victory against fellow League Two club Elgin City.  The Blue Toon came from 2-1 down with 20 minutes left, thanks to a brace from defender Jason Brown.  Peterhead now have three points on the board, following a 5-0 thrashing in their opening fixture at the hands of Queen’s Park.  Notable names for our visitors include former Aberdeen and Dundee United midfielder Peter Pawlett and lower league Scottish football icon Rory McAllister.  Kelty Hearts last played Peterhead during the 2022/23 season in League One, where there were two home victories at New Central Park including a 2-1 win with a last gasp Joe Cardle winner.  

Saturday’s impressive victory has given Kelty Hearts a fighting chance to progress through the Premier Sports Cup group stages for the first time.  Michael Tidser told us after the match on Saturday that he won’t dwell on the victory too much: “the standard’s always the same, whether you’re playing Hibs or Peterhead.  We’ll go into it with the same focus and the same mentality and that togetherness will carry us throughout the season.”