Kelty Hearts 1 Queen of the South 0

MICHAEL TIDSER was the hero for Kelty Hearts as they secured an important win over Queen of the South tonight.

The experienced midfielder's strike from the edge of the area, after Nicky Low won the ball from former Dunfermline man, Iain Wilson, put the hosts ahead at the interval.

It was a lead that the maintained in the second half and, despite the visitors having plenty of possession and applying some late pressure, they couldn't force Darren Jamieson in the Kelty goal into serious work.

It was a third successive win for the hosts at home, who moved up to eighth in the table and above Clyde, who they host on Saturday.

They are also level on points with Queens, who stay above them on goal difference.

The home side made five changes from Saturday's loss at Edinburgh, two of which were enforced.

Nathan Austin and Jordon Forster both picked up injuries at the weekend, so missed out, whilst Dougie Hill, Jamie Barjonas and Scott McGill dropped to the bench.

In came Alfredo Agyeman, Tam O'Ware, Reis Peggie, Kallum Higginbotham and Joe Cardle, but it was a low key start to proceedings.

Stephen Hendrie had the game's first decent effort, a strike from outside the area that was deflected wide for a Doonhamers corner, but there wasn't much in the way of goalmouth action early on.

Lee Connelly had a free-kick deflected wide for the visitors, and Harry Cochrane sent a decent drive just over the top, whilst Agyeman, with an effort that was blocked, had Kelty's best effort inside the opening quarter.

Agyeman looped a header over the bar but, in the 34th minute, his team were ahead.

A loose pass from Queens midfielder Wilson handed possession to Low, who played it on for Tidser.

The skipper moved forward and, from the edge of the box, drove a fine shot into the bottom corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Josh Todd diverted a corner wide for the visitors as they tried to respond, whilst Cardle, having done brilliantly to create space for himself and shoot, scuffed an effort that was cleared before the break.

Queens were immediately on the front foot after half-time, Cochrane clearing the crossbar after a corner was cleared to him at the edge of the box, whilst Gavin Reilly, another ex-Pars player, shot wide.

The hosts lost Lewis Martin to a knock, with Cammy Logan replacing him, in a switch that saw Jason Thomson move into the centre of defence.

He headed off target from a corner, which came shortly after Connelly blazed over for the Doonhamers from a cutback, when he ought to have hit the target, while Reilly was unfortunate not to make Jamieson work after reacting to substitute Connor Murray's knockdown from around eight yards.

Barjonas replaced Low and, within seconds, the midfielder was in the action, lashing the ball over from distance after an Agyeman cross was cleared out to him.

Kelty were defending balls into their box resolutely, with Jamieson not having much to do, and Tidser had a go from a free-kick at the other end, but saw his effort deflected wide.

The Doonhamers launched a late rally, and another substitute, Calvin McGrory, caused panic with a brilliant corner that a maroon shirt touched clear.

However, Queens sent the ball back in, and Ewan Bange, another who came off the bench, headed wide, to the hosts' relief.

That was, though, as close as the visitors came, as Kelty held on for a third successive win to move out of the bottom two.

Match stats Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Thomson, O'Ware, Martin (Logan 52), Peggie, Cardle, Tidser (McNab 78), Low (Barjonas 64), Lyon, Higginbotham, Agyeman.

Subs not used: Hill, McGill, Campbell, Cameron, Doherty.

Goal: Tidser (34).

Booked: Higginbotham (77), Barjonas (82).

Queen of the South: Fox, McKay, Wilson (Gibson 80), Cochrane (McGrory 56), Paton (Bange 73), Todd, Reilly, Connelly (Murray 56), McKenna, East (Quitongo 80), Hendrie.

Subs not used: Currie, McKechnie, Ruth, Irving.

Booked: Paton (44), Quitongo (85), Todd (90).

Referee: Iain Snedden.

Attendance: 548.