Kelty Hearts had their lead overturned at Palmerston Park as Queen of the South ran out 3-1 winners. Craig Johnston had Kelty ahead in the first half, but goals from Jack Stott, Reece Lyon and Liam Smith saw the hosts come away with all three points.
The opening goal came in the 19th minute and it was all about the work from Luke McCarvel. Picking up the ball in the midfield, McCarvel skipped past Benjamin Luissint with ease, skinned Jack Hannah and was eventually taken out by Matty Douglas. The loose ball trickled through to Craig Johnston who took the advantage and finished under the on-rushing Ross Stewart.
Queen of the South were back on level terms on the hour mark through midfielder Jack Stott. A long ball was flicked on by target man Kurtis Guthrie, who played a one-two with Stott. From outside the box, Stott fired low to the left corner to beat Kyle Gourlay.
The comeback was complete for the Doonhamers 12 minutes later through former Kelty man Reece Lyon. Michael Hewitt floated in a cross from the right, the move was kept alive in the box where Lyon got on the end of Stott’s header to divert past Gourlay.
In the dying stages of the match former Swansea winger Liam Smith put the result beyond doubt for Peter Murphy’s side. Smith set through Euan Ross who returned the favour by teeing up Smith for a first time finish in the box.
The Maroon Machine had the ball in the back of the net again before the restart. Craig Clay fired a long-range pass to Lewis Moore who beat Stewart, but the winger was judged offside by the linesman in a tight call.
Defenders Sam Fisher and Dylan Corr made their debuts for Kelty Hearts after their midweek arrivals from Dunfermline and Morton respectively. Both impressed, with the former making a brilliant goal line clearance from Luissint in the first half.
Reflecting on the defeat to Kelty Hearts TV, assistant manager Michael Tidser believes “it was lost individually and collectively. At any level you’ve got to be able to play through the pressure, and that flips the mindset and the game. In the first half we did that well, but in the second half it was missing.”
Written by: Jamie Szmitz
Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)