In match day two of the KDM Evolution Trophy, Kelty Hearts host Lowland League West side Clydebank at New Central Park.
Thomas O’Ware will be hoping to build on the three points and good performance against Dumbarton on Saturday, where the Maroon Machine ran out 3-1 winners. Goals from Jamie Hislop, Lewis Moore and Alex Ferguson overcame an early set back from Leighton McIntosh’s 16th minute penalty opener.
In the KDM Evolution Trophy, Kelty Hearts got off to a winning start in an entertaining clash against Motherwell B. The young Steelmen took an early two goal lead before Kelty turned the game on its head with three goals before half-time from Innes Murray and two from Ryan Shanley.
A debut goal for Jamie Hislop seconds after the restart saw Kelty take a 4-2 lead which, despite Lucas Weir’s 56th minute goal, was enough for all three points.
Clydebank also scored four in their opening game of the cup, however Hibernian B had no response for the Holm Park side. Matt Niven broke the deadlock in the 56th minute before Joshua Jack scored twice and Blair Rossiter added gloss to the scoreline.
In the league, Kelty’s opponents sit seventh in the newly formed Lowland League West table. From their opening five, Clydebank has won three, drawn one and lost one. Last season, the Bankies narrowly missed out on the Lowland League title and a place in the SPFL Pyramid Play-Offs after being pipped to the title by two points to Linlithgow Rose.
Speaking to Kelty Hearts TV after Saturday’s win, Thomas O’Ware admits “it’ll be an extremely tough game. You see the injuries we’ve picked up; Dylan Corr is injured, Lewis Moore has picked one up which sees him out for 4-6 weeks, Ross [Cunningham] was missing today due to an injury that occurred during the week.
“It’s just the bodies, but it’s a great opportunity for people who haven’t had minutes to go and express themselves on the pitch. For Clydebank, Gordon Moffat is a tremendous young coach and he has them playing some great football so it’ll be an extremely tough game.”
Match-day information can be found here.
Written by: Jamie Szmitz
Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)