Late goal makes for exciting finale

LOWLAND League Spartans just outgunned Kelty Hearts at Ainslie Park last night in the Football Nation Qualifying Cup first round in Edinburgh.

Hearts knew this would be a real step up in class from what they have met so far in their move to the senior ranks and that is exactly what they found.

But they kept working away and scored a couple of good goals before just failing to make round two.

Kenny Adamson came close with a header for Kelty from a set-piece early on and it was the visitors who went ahead.

A free-kick out wide was sent into the box and Sean O’Neil was first to react to out-jump the defence to send a looping header home.

Two goals in the three frantic minutes then turned the game round for Cup holders Spartans.

On the half hour mark, Craig Stevenson made a dash to the bye-line before whipping in a cross that was converted by Willie Bremner.  Then, just three minutes later, the same provider delivered an early corner and the ball was headed into the net by Jack Nixon.

That was it at the break but early in the second-half a three pass move from defence to attack that saw Scott Maxwell break free before squaring the ball to Atkinson who tapped into the unguarded net to leave Hearts with a mountain to climb.

But back they came and with ten minutes left Stuart Cargill finished well to set up an exciting finale but Spartans held on.

Kelty boss Thomas Courts was not disappointed and Tweeted: "On a learning curve that we're acclimatising to. The style of game is new and challenging, but losing aside, the lads are bang on track!"