Kelty Hearts were thoroughly beaten 3-0 by kingdom rivals East Fife at New Central Park.  Goals from Kieran Millar, Reiss Peggie and Gregor Nicol sealed it for the Fifers.

At the end of a positive first half for the Maroon Machine, East Fife’s opener came against the run of play.  Michael McKenna’s cross pulled Adamson out, his punch away was only as far as Millar who swept home.

Just minutes after skewing a golden chance to equalise, the visitors would double their lead through Peggie.  From a quick free-kick, McLeod delivered a deep cross from the right onto the head of Peggie, who powerfully glanced into the top corner.

In the dying stages of the match, substitute Gregor Nicol added a third for the Bayview side.  McManus looped a clever pass over the defence where Nicol had space to place an effort beyond Adamson in the top corner.

With the score at 1-0, Kelty had a golden chance to equalise just after the break.  Aaron Arnott got himself in front of the defender and was pulled down, with Innes Murray stepping up.  Matthew Rollo guessed the right way and saved Murray’s tame effort.

The Maroon Machine had two good chances to get ahead before East Fife’s breakthrough.  Craig Johnston couldn’t turn in a drilled Innes Murray cross, with Luke McCarvel’s follow-up cleared off the line.  Later on, Murray Thomas’ shot was parried by Rollo, with McCarvel reacting first but his header was off target from close range.

Reflecting on the match to Kelty Hearts TV, Thomas O’Ware was “overall disappointed.  In a game we’re in full control of, an individual error sees us a goal down.  We react well in the second and win a penalty, miss it and are then two goals down which I think sums up our season so far.

There were so many good bits in the first 35 minutes, but it’s another defeat.  Everyone needs to be held accountable, myself included, and it needs to be better.”

Written by: Jamie Szmitz

Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)