Kelty Hearts 3 Queen of the South 0

KALLUM HIGGINBOTHAM netted twice as Kelty Hearts claimed an impressive League One win over Queen of the South.

The Englishman's brace, either side of an Alfredo Agyeman strike, helped to end a run of three league games without a win for John Potter's side.

After a scoreless first half, in which Tam O'Ware had a header ruled out for offside, whilst home keeper, Darren Jamieson, saved well from Jaze Kabia and Connor Murray, Kelty made the break through with 20 minutes left.

Stephen Hendrie was penalised for handball, allowing Higginbotham to tuck home the penalty, before Agyeman ran clear six minutes later to double the hosts' advantage.

Higginbotham's second of the day, taking his total number of goals for the season to six, was a fine, first time finish after a free-kick into the Doonhamers box, and completed a fine afternoon's work for Kelty, who moved level on points with their opponents in the table.

It was a third win from as many league meetings with Queens for Kelty this season, who moved to within seven points of fourth place and final promotion play-off place.

The home side, who ahead of the game lost the services of on-loan Arbroath midfielder, Nicky Low, after his agreement with the club, and contract with the Lichties, were cancelled to allow him to complete a move from Clydebank, made one change to the team defeated by Falkirk two weeks ago.

Nathan Austin missed out through injury, with Lewis Martin coming in, while Marvin Bartley made three changes to his Doonhamers side that lost their last match, at Hamilton Academical in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-finals.

Ryan Muir, Michael Ruth and Kieran McKechnie dropped out, with Jaze Kabia, Lewis Gibson and Jack Brydon coming into their starting eleven.

In the quarter-finals of that competition, last month, Queens got the better of Kelty on penalties, but Potter's team had won both of the previous league meetings between the pair this season.

They were seeking to move level on points with their opponents, who sat one place above Kelty in seventh at the start of play, whilst bouncing back from their last-gasp defeat to the promotion chasing Bairns in their previous match.

It was the visitors, however, who were first to threaten when Kabia forced Darren Jamieson in the home goal into a smart save after connecting well with Gibson's cross.

Queens shaded possession in the opening period, and survived a scare in the 17th minute when Kelty had the ball in the net.

Skipper Michael Tidser's free-kick into the box was met well by O'Ware, but his header was ruled out for offside, with the assistant referee's flag straight away.

Robbie Leitch attempted a speculative volley, sending the ball over the bar after a set piece was headed out to him, while Gibson had a curling effort deflected over for a corner at the other end.

Stephen Hendrie, and Darren Lyon, had shots blocked at either end, before Jamieson was called into action to palm away a decent Connor Murray effort for the Doonhamers.

A low key start to the second half saw both teams struggle to retain possession, although Murray, for Queens, and Higginbotham, for Kelty, both had attempts at goal blocked.

Joe Cardle was sent on by Potter and, after his introduction, Kelty seemed to up the ante.

And, after O'Ware met a Tidser cross, and penalty appeals for what the hosts perceived to be handball were waved away, they were awarded a spot-kick with 20 minutes to go.

Hendrie was penalised for a handball in the area and Higginbotham stepped up to send Kevin Dabrowski the wrong way to give Kelty the lead.

Ruari Paton soon afterwards had a chance at the far post, which Jamieson saved, but Kelty quickly hit a second goal.

The ball was played forward for Agyeman to chase and his pace was too much for his marker to deal with.

The forward raced in behind the visitors defence and, from just inside the penalty area, picked his spot well by placing a lovely shot across Dabrowski for his ninth goal of the campaign.

Then, with six minutes to go, Kelty added a third.

A free-kick into the Queens box was cleared straight to Higginbotham who, first time, sent a brilliant fnish beyond Dabrowski to seal three points, and a third win from three games over the Doonhamers for Kelty in League One this season, to move within seven points of a promotion play-off spot.

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Peggie (Philp 86), O'Ware, Milne, Martin, Lyon, Tidser, Barjonas, Leitch (Cardle 63), Higginbotham (Shearer 86), Agyeman.

Subs not used: Hill, Campbell.

Goals: Higginbotham (70, pen, 84), Agyeman (76).

Booked: Milne (4), Barjonas (63), Cardle (87).

Queen of the South: Dabrowski, P. McKay (Logan 75), Cochrane (Wilson 68), Paton, Todd, Murray (McGrory 68), East, Hendrie, Kabia (McKechnie 56), Gibson (Irving 56), Brydon.

Subs not used: D. McKay, Ruth, McMahon, Botterill.

Referee: Barry Cook.

Attendance: 708.