Kelty Hearts were defeated by Stenhousemuir at Ochilview on Saturday, after goals from Euan O’Reily and Gregor Buchanan for the hosts.  Ross Cunningham got Kelty back in it with 15 minutes to go, and former Kelty ‘keeper Darren Jamieson won the game for the Warriors with a 94th minute penalty save.

The opening goal came in the 15th minute through Euan O’Reily.  After Brody Paterson loses his footing, the Warriors cut the ball back into the box.  Matty Aitken slips in the box, but O’Reily is there to slot past Ruaridh Adams.  

In the first half, Ross Cunningham came closest for Kelty to equalise.  A long distance shot tested the Warriors’ goalkeeper Darren Jamieson, but Jamieson got down well to save.  Stenny had the better of the chances in the first half, with Aitken and O’Reily coming closest with half chances.  

Stenhousemuir were good value for their lead and started the second half brightly.  Two minutes after the restart, they doubled their lead.  A corner from Matty Yates was swung across goal where Gregor Buchanan headed in at the back post.

Matty Aitken almost added a third for the hosts just two minutes after the second.  O’Reily hit the by-line and floated a cross in for Stenny’s number nine, his header beat Adams but was denied by the crossbar. 

Kelty Hearts would halve the deficit in the 76th minute through Ross Cunningham’s seventh of the season.  A ball across the box from Connor Allan is deflected out to Billy Owens who finds Cunningham at the edge of the box on the left hand side.  Cunningham’s first attempt is blocked but his second bite of the cherry sails past Jamieson into the far corner.

In the dying moments of the game Kelty had a golden chance to complete the comeback from the spot.  After a scramble in the box from Murray Thomas’ cross, Craig Johnston swung a cross in which hit the Stenhousemuir skipper Buchanan’s arm.  The referee pointed to the spot and Cunningham stood over it.  Cunningham goes to the right and Jamieson guesses correctly to secure all three points for the hosts.

Reflecting on the match to Kelty Hearts TV, assistant manager Kevin McDonald admitted “if we had equalised it would’ve been daylight robbery.  We didn’t deserve anything from the game, we lost battles all over the pitch and we were poor on the day.”  

Written by: Jamie Szmitz

Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)