Kelty Hearts secured an emphatic win in Dumfries beating Queen of the South 5-1. A double from Ross Cunningham and one from Scott Williamson saw the Maroon Machine 3-0 up before half-time. In the second half the Doonhamers got one back but Sam Cleall-Harding’s first senior goal and another from Williamson capped off a dominant performance.
After a shaky open fifteen minutes, Kelty grew into the game and got the breakthrough in the 26th minute. On the counter-attack debutant Jacob MacIntyre played a ball through to Williamson who teed up Ross Cunningham for a calm finish past goalkeeper Ross Stewart.
Nine minutes later Cunningham would double his and Kelty’s tally for the afternoon from the spot. Queen’s midfielder Lewis O’Donnell attempted to clear a loose ball but Craig Johnston got there first and was brought down. From 12 yards Cunningham sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for his 6th of the league season.
It didn’t take long for a third in the 41st minute through Scott Williamson. After some neat play down the left, Brody Patterson ran into the box but was fairly challenged. The loose ball fell into the path of Williamson who composed himself and hammered home from close range into the bottom corner.
Going into the second half, Peter Murphy’s side needed a big reaction and got a goal back within 13 minutes of the restart. From a cross Leighton McIntosh’s volley hit the inside of the post and crawled along the face of the goal where Mikey Hewitt tapped in.
However, within five minutes the three goal advantage was back in Kelty’s favour. From a corner, Thomas O’Ware beat the goalkeeper but headed onto the bar – on the rebound, Sam Cleall-Harding was there to nod in the first goal of his senior career. Minutes after the goal, Queen of the South captain Matty Douglas was shown a second yellow card in what was a frustrating afternoon for the Palmerston Park side.
The afternoon kept getting better for Kelty Hearts and specifically Scott Williamson when he added the fifth in the 70th minute. A fantastic passing move was rounded off by Johnston finding substitute Murray Thomas with acres of space in the box. He played a perfect pass through to Williamson who could not miss from a few yards out.
Speaking to Kelty Hearts TV, Michael Tidser was full of praise after “a good day for the club and something to build on. To be 3-0 up at half-time down here which is a tricky place, I said to the lads can we show the right attitude and mentality and we done that. We scored another really good two goals and I’m delighted with the three points.”
Written by: Jamie Szmitz
Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)