It was an exciting night under the lights at New Central Park as Kelty Hearts beat Arbroath 3-2.  A brace from Jacob MacIntyre and a winner from substitute Scott Williamson clinched all three points against the league leaders.

Arbroath took the lead in the 42nd minute through Gavin Reily.  A corner whipped in by Fraser Taylor found Reily free in the box and from close range the forward headed past Ruaridh Adams.

Kelty Hearts were quick to respond however and were back on level terms before half time.  The ball broke kindly for Kelty in the midfield and Lewis Moore latched onto it.  He played a ball out to MacIntyre who chested down and struck early from just inside the box into the bottom corner. 

The game was turned on its head in the 53rd minute through Jacob MacIntyre once again.  The Hibs loanee battled to win it back the Arbroath midfielder and took it out wide to the right.  MacIntyre spotted McAdams off his line and the cross turned shot looped over the Red Lichties goalkeeper for a superb finish.

In a frantic opening to the second half, Arbroath went up the other end and pulled level just four minutes later.  After a Kelty cross was headed away, Arbroath broke with Innes Murray down the left.  Murray played it inwards and continued his run, Scott Stewart picked up the ball on the opposite flank and played in Murray who took a touch and prodded past Adams.

 The Kelty Hearts winner came from substitute Scott Williamson’s seventh goal of the league season.  After a good passing move from the Maroon Machine, Brody Paterson fired in a cross to Williamson.  The striker held up play to try and slide in Connor Allan, but when the pass was cut out Williamson regained possession and had space to turn and finish in the box.  

Reflecting on the eventful evening, Michael Tidser told Kelty Hearts TV “it’s a good three points.  We were the only game on tonight so it was important to get the three points on the teams around us.”  

Written by: Jamie Szmitz

Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)