Kelty Hearts lose to East Fife in Premier Sports Cup tie

Tam O'Ware bemoaned his side's second half display and claimed they "played as individuals" as they went down to derby defeat on Saturday.

Alan Trouten's goal with 13 minutes to go sent three Premier Sports Cup, Group H, points to Methil in what was the Maroon Machine's second match in the competition.

They had opened up with an impressive 4-0 victory at Highland League champions, Brora Rangers, last Tuesday, with Robbie Cole scoring a double, and Craig Johnston and Alex Ferguson also netting.

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However, despite a promising opening period at New Central Park, which included Cole having a goal disallowed, player / manager O'Ware felt his team's efforts after the break let them down.

"We just stopped doing everything that we've done for the last six weeks, everything that we did on Tuesday night (last week against Brora) we stopped, and we played as individuals," he said.

"That's the bit that I've said to them in there, that real desire to get on the ball, I don't think it was there second half.

Tam O'Ware was disappointed with his side's second half showing. (Image: David Wardle.) "Again, if that's because East Fife made it physical, then you're going to come up against that type of game 10-15 times a season.

"I was bitterly disappointed with the second half."

The teams, who will meet in a league campaign for the first time this season after East Fife were promoted to League One, had played in this competition previously.

On that occasion four years ago, Kelty ran out 3-0 winners, and they had the better of the opening 45 minutes this time around.

Cole was at the heart of much of it, although he had a claim for a penalty ignored after he went down under pressure from Brian Easton after a good run into the box, before being unfortunate not to connect with Lewis Moore's ball across the penalty area.

Innes Murray and Jack Brydon both had attempts at goal before Cole, inside the six-yard area, finished well from Murray Thomas' low cross, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Robbie Cole was a threat for Kelty in the first half. (Image: David Wardle.) East Fife forward Nathan Austin, a prolific finisher during a four-year spell in maroon, had the ball in the net after half-time after being picked out by Connor McManus, but he too was thwarted by an offside call.

Johnston and Moore sent shots off-target for Kelty, as did Austin at the other end, but the visitors got the decisive goal inside the final quarter of an hour.

Goalkeeper Corey Armour, making his second competitive appearance after joining on loan from Kilmarnock, was put under pressure by Pat Slattery with the ball at his feet inside his box.

His pass out saw Craig Clay challenged immediately by Trouten and, as the ball looped into the air and headed towards goal, Armour palmed it down, only for it to land at the feet of Slattery.

The midfielder laid it back into Trouten's path and, from the edge of the six-yard box, he stroked home for the winning goal.

"The game was what we thought it would be," O'Ware noted.

"East Fife are really well organised, a direct team, and we handled that first half.

The match ended in disappointment for Kelty. (Image: David Wardle.) "First half we were really good. We've kept the ball, we've played in promising areas, we got joy from it, although it didn't lead to a goal, but I felt we were in control.

"And, then, second half, for whatever reason, we stopped. It didn't look like my Kelty team, so disappointed second half."

Kelty take on Kilmarnock at New Central Park this evening.