Kelty Hearts lose to Stenhousemuir in SPFL League One

Kelty Hearts saw their League One survival hopes suffer another blow as they lost out to title-chasing Stenhousemuir.

Tam O'Ware's side succumbed to a goal in each half, from Ross Taylor and Matty Aitken, at Ochilview as Gary Naysmith's Warriors closed to within a point of top spot.

The result, coupled with Cove Rangers drawing with Hamilton Academical, leaves the Maroon Machine further adrift at the bottom.

Accies, who sit second bottom and in the relegation play-off spot, are six points clear of Kelty, with Cove a further three in front, with six games to go.

Additionally, the Fifers, who go to Accies next week, have a vastly inferior goal difference on both teams above them as their four-season stay in the third tier hangs in the balance.

"There was not much in the game, but we concede two, carbon copy goals, a ball into the box that we don't deal with," O'Ware said.

"I thought it took us 30 minutes to show a bravery to play, and, then when we do that, we get joy from it.

"But, again, overall, not enough. Nowhere near enough."

The visitors made two changes to the side that drew at home to East Fife last time out.

Murray Thomas and Aaron Arnott dropped to the bench, whilst Luke McCarvel miss out completely, as Alasdair Davidson, James Graham and Ross Cunningham came into the line-up.

Kelty arrived at Ochilview having drawn five of their last six outings, losing the other, and shared the spoils on their last trip to Stenny in November.

However, Gary Naysmith's Warriors were victorious on both of their visits to New Central Park, and came into this fixture unbeaten in their last seven League One outings, winning three of the last four.

They were also seeking to keep the pressure on leaders, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with only three points separating the top two before kick off.

By contrast, Kelty began the day five points behind second bottom, Hamilton Academical, and eight adrift of Cove Rangers in eighth, a position of safety, with a vastly inferior goal difference in comparison to both.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the Warriors with the first sight of goal, Aitken firing over from around 20 yards, and it took them just seven minutes to opening the scoring.

They worked the ball well out to the left hand side and, from Euan O'Reilly's cross, which was slightly behind him, Taylor took a touch, swivelled, and fired a fine effort beyond Kyle Gourlay into the roof of the net.

It was a bad start for the away side, who tried to respond, and thought they could've had a penalty when Sam Fisher went down in the box - only for ref, Iain Snedden, to deem that he dived, dishing out a yellow card.

Taylor, with team-mates waiting for a cross, fired a free-kick straight into the arms of Gourlay, before Cunningham was crowded out, after some encouraging Kelty play, inside the Stenny box.

Alex Ferguson, who netted the Maroon Machine's equaliser last week, had an attempt from range that was comfortable for the Warriors' former Kelty goalkeeper, Darren Jamieson, before Aitken nodded wide from a Taylor centre for the hosts.

Nicky Jamieson glanced wide as Gary Naysmith's side again threatened and, moments later, Gourlay produced a brilliant save to push O'Reilly's header towards the far corner behind.

Cunningham sent a free-kick into the Stenny wall, after Innes Murray had felled around 20 yards out, and he then drifted infield from the right, checked on to his right foot, and curled for goal, but Jamieson in goal was equal to it.

On the stroke of half-time, Cunningham blasted a volley into a crowd of home defenders, before Graham fired over as O'Ware's men ended the opening period in encouraging fashion.

Craig Clay, from a long Jack Brydon throw, had a shot blocked moments after the restart as Kelty sought a route back into the contest, but home captain, Gregor Buchanan, should have done better in the 54th minute.

Finding himself unmarked, six yards out, he could only head a cross straight at Gourlay, keeping the away side in it.

The Maroon Machine stopper then pushed away a Taylor free-kick, and saved from Ross Meechan on the follow-up, before O'Ware made a double switch, sending on Cammy Cooper and Jack Wyllie for Cunningham and Sam Fisher.

Cooper showed good feet to turn just before halfway and charge into Warriors territory, having a shot blocked behind for a corner, one of three in succession they forced, ending with Moore slicing wide at the near post.

Taylor, with another set-piece, tried his luck once more for the hosts, but was off-target, but inside the final 10 minutes, they made sure of victory when Aitken was picked out inside the box, finishing coolly beyond Gourlay from close range.

Stenhousemuir: D. Jamieson, Meechan, N. Jamieson, Buchanan, Simpson, O'Reilly (Cameron 74), Anderson (Robson 90), Whyte, McGill (Grant 90), Taylor (Ritchie-Hosler 85), Aitken (Carrick 85).

Subs not used: Graham, Robson, Gray, Ewen, Grant, Lyle.

Goals: Taylor (7), Aitken (82).

Booked: Meechan (57).

Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Davidson, Fisher (Wyllie 58), Corr, Brydon, Ferguson (Arnott 75), Clay, Moore, Graham (Thomas 88), Murray (Pettifer 75), Cunningham (Cooper 58).

Subs not used: Snoddy, Leitch, Adamson.

Booked: Fisher (18), Brydon (55), Murray (64), Davidson (71).

Referee: Iain Snedden.