FC Edinburgh 2 Kelty Hearts 2

KALLUM Higginbotham proved his value in the capital with a late equaliser to give Kelty a point at Meadowbank.

Aaron Darge headed Hearts in front but straight from the start of the second half a mistake from goalkeeper Darren Jamieson gifted Innes Murray an equaliser.

And after Alfie Agyeman’s header came back off the bar Edinburgh went up the other end with Ryan Shanley smashing in a 30 yard drive.

But with 14 minutes left super sub Joe Cardle swung in a dream of a ball and Higginbotham’s downward header found the net.

Kelty still have no wins in their last nine matches – before this they hadn’t even scored in the previous four games – with their last triumph a 3-0 home win over Queen of the South on 18th February.

Safe from relegation despite this dismal run of form, they won’t go any higher or lower than eighth but there are major moves off the park with manager John Potter, managing director Dean McKenzie and sporting director Andy Barrowman all leaving at the end of the season.

They’re all involved in the bid to take over at Raith Rovers which leaves question marks about the future of Hearts and club captain Michael Tidser in charge of the team in League 1 next season.

On the pitch they have at least achieved their aim of staying up but will be looking for signs of optimism as this campaign peters out.

They were plenty here with the team carrying a goal threat and showing character to battle back for a point.

Edinburgh’s own play-off ambitions are almost over and they were made to pay for missing two brilliant chances in the first half.

Just seven minutes in and Jack Milne misjudged a high ball that allowed Ryan Shanley to escape and bear down on goal but he fired wide when he should have hit the target.

Not long after Hearts failed to clear a Kyle Jacobs’ delivery from the right, it fell perfectly for John Robertson but he scuffed his effort and the ball bounced harmlessly past the post.

Kelty punished them with a goal in the 24th minute, their first effort of the match and first time they’d netted since 18th March.

Kallum Higginbotham swung in a free kick and Aaron Darge was unmarked as he stooped to thumpa header past Robbie Mutch.

The goalie was then out quick to save at Alfie Agyeman’s feet as Hearts tried to push home their advantage.

Higginbotham tested Mutch’s handling with a low free kick, luckily for Edinburgh he held on, before Darren Jamieson preserved their lead with a fine save.

Innes Murray’s curling effort looked destined for the bottom corner until the Kelty stopper stuck out a big right hand to divert the ball round the post.

Hearts almost doubled up just before the break when they worked an opening, slicing the home defence wide open before Robbie Leitch curled the ball towards the top corner – missing it by inches.

Straight from the restart the Kelty goalie went from hero to villain after the ball was passed back to him and he duffed it straight to Murray who found the empty net.

Another blunder gave the Fife team the chance to retake the lead in the 50th minute, when Jacobs failed to cut out a routine cross, with Agyeman clean through, just to the right of goal.

He had time to pick his spot but ballooned the ball high over the bar.

The match turned the home side’s way in 60 seconds. Just as Kelty threatened, with Agyeman’s header bouncing back off the bar, Edinburgh raced to the other end.

Shanley tried his luck from 30 yards and his thunderbolt gave Jamieson no chance to put them ahead with half an hour to go. But in the 76th minute Cardle raced down the left, stood up a great ball to the back post and Higginbotham raced in to guide a downward header into the net.

Cardle could have won it but after breaking clear he overran the ball and Mutch was out quick to smother at his feet.

There were a few scares at the end, Ouzy See headed wide with seconds left, but Kelty held on for a point.