The Maroon Machine played out a 1-1 draw with Queen of the South at New Central Park.  A Kai Kennedy penalty was shortly cancelled out by Ricco Diack’s fourth goal of the league season.

The breakthrough came in the 49th minute when Kurtis Guthrie was fouled in the box.  Guthrie and Thomas O’Ware were chasing a long ball and Guthrie got in front of the defender who was brought down.  From the spot kick, Kennedy fired over Gouraly who had dived the right way.  

Queen of the South’s lead lasted only five minutes thanks to Ricco Diack.  The on-loan Partick Thistle man’s eyes lit up when he latched onto a poor back pass from Jack Stott.  Diack kept his composure and poked a finish under the on-rushing goalkeeper.

It was the visitors who came closest to finding a winner after the goals.  Kennedy down the left floated a good cross into Guthrie, his free header was well saved by Gourlay.  

Kelty Hearts began the match strongly and looked dangerous through the talismanic Diack.  It didn’t take long for him to look dangerous, with a strike from distance going narrowly wide.

A familiar face featured for Kelty as Kyle Gourlay made his first league start since returning to the club.  He was forced into a good save early on, having to get down well to keep out Kurtis Guthrie’s close-range strike.  

Reflecting on the match to Kelty Hearts TV, Thomas O’Ware said “it’s probably a game that ends three or four nil to the opposition a few weeks ago.  I’ve seen a togetherness in the last couple of weeks that is getting into this team.  

There is a clear change in this team and that is a positive reaction,” he says.  “To go a goal down and have that reaction… overall I’m delighted with the point and more so the 90 minutes.”

Written by: Jamie Szmitz

Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)