Tam O'Ware declares Hamilton clash must-win for Kelty Hearts

The New Central Park manager has laid his team's precarious position on the line as they face an increasingly tough ask to extend their four season stay in the third tier.

They lost 2-0 at title-chasing Stenhousemuir at the weekend, their 17th defeat of the campaign, to remain adrift at the foot of the table.

With six games to go, they are as many points behind Accies, who are ninth and in the relegation play-off spot, and a further three behind Cove Rangers, who are eighth and in a position of safety.

Additionally, Cove and Hamilton, who played out a 2-2 draw on Saturday, are 26 and 43 goals better off than the Maroon Machine respectively.

Kelty, who drew 0-0 with Hamilton at home in January, are six points behind them in the table. (Image: David Wardle.)

Kelty and their Lanarkshire rivals played out a scoreless draw in January, after a takeover of the club by an American consortium, fronted by chairman, Jordan Gardner, was announced, but Accies were winners in the other two meetings this season.

They have also yet to lose to Kelty, who have only picked up maximum points on three occasions this term, in a league fixture.

O'Ware, however, has said that must change on Saturday if his team are to retain any hope of staying up and avoiding relegation to League Two.

"Simple. We need to win on Saturday. There's your headline," he said.

"If you don't win Saturday, you're down. If you lose, you're nine (points) behind.

"I've looked after the players a lot, but, Saturday, there's no shying away from anything.

"They know what they need to do, and they know the levels that I expect from them."

Kelty Hearts boss, Tam O'Ware, has declared this Saturday's game with Accies as a must-win for his side. (Image: David Wardle.)

Midfielder, Alex Ferguson, commented: "Everyone knows how big a game it is, them being above us, but I think the position we're in, we can go into the game with probably less nerves than them, because we're kind of the underdog team, the team that's trying to push them.

"So, we need to just go and give 100 per cent, and hopefully get a result."

O'Ware added that both Brody Paterson and Luke McCarvel, who were unavailable to feature against Stenny, would be assessed this week ahead of the trip to Broadwood.