MICHAEL TIDSER has praised centre forward Craig Johnston's contribution to the Kelty Hearts cause which he claimed can sometimes be "unnoticed".

The New Central Park player / manager, however, says that the 29-year-old's work for the side doesn't go unnoticed by his team-mates, and hopes he can mark it with more goals before the end of the season.

Johnston moved to Kelty, his home village, in the summer from Montrose, with whom he had spent six years after beginning his career with Cowdenbeath.

He was back at his old stomping ground on Saturday and netted a brace, which took his tally for the campaign to seven.

Johnston's first goals were his first in eight games, since he netted an equaliser in a draw at Hamilton Academical just before Christmas, and brought Kelty back level after they fell two goals behind.

Although Montrose went on to secure a 4-2 victory, Tidser praised his number nine's display as "excellent", commenting: "He's a real handful, first and foremost. He works defenders, he knows his way around this pitch, because he'd been here for four or five years, and I knew he'd cause them problems.

"I changed it a wee bit when we were 2-0 down, we went with two up front, because it's hard for him up there against the three big lads. I put Joe (McGlynn) up beside him, shifted the shape a wee bit, and I thought it suited us much better.

"I'm just pleased CJ got his goals because the amount of work he does, sometimes it goes unnoticed.

"We appreciate him as staff, and I know the players certainly appreciate him, so it's pleasing he got his goals, and hopefully he can continue that into the last 12, 13 games."