Kelty Hearts return to KDM evolution trophy action as they face League One side Montrose at New Central Park.
It’s been a mixed KDM trophy campaign for the Maroon Machine so far, with a 4-3 win against Motherwell B, 4-2 loss vs Clydebank, 3-0 win against Cumbernauld Colts and most recently a 5-2 loss vs Hearts B. These results have put Kelty 22nd in the overall table.
Montrose are no stranger to Kelty, having played them 4 times last season, with Kelty winning 2, drawing 1, and losing the other. They are also a team Michael Tidser knows well, having had a spell at Links Park as a player last season, making 9 appearances. He said after Tuesday’s defeat to Hearts B that Montrose will be “a really tough test”. The Gable Endies have had a strong start to their season; currently sitting 3rd in League One with 5 wins and 3 losses. In the KDM trophy they sit 11th with 3 out of 4 games won, having tarnished their perfect record on Tuesday night with a shock 3-2 defeat to Highland league outfit FortmartineUnited. In their other games Montrose beat Fraserburgh 2-0, Clyde 3-0 and Dundee B 3-2.
Tidser had his first training session with the team on Thursday evening since he took over as interim manager. He stressed after the Hearts B game that training would be “a wee bit lighter” due to the squad being “down to bare bones”.
Both sides will be desperate to get back to winning ways after losing to lower league opposition earlier in the week.
Written by: Daniel Toal
Photography: Kevin Marshall (@KayemPhoto)