Kelty Hearts 3-2 Brora Rangers, Premier Sports Cup, Group A
Substitute Finn Moffett scored a dramatic stoppage time winner to give Kelty Hearts victory over Brora Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup.
The 22-year-old, a close season arrival from the University of Stirling, poked home from inside the box, after determined play by skipper, Jack Brydon, to set him up.
It was the third time that Tam O'Ware's led in the contest, with a brace from Ryan Shanley in the first half, countered by James Wallace and Shane Sutherland either side of the break.
The result moves Kelty onto five points in Group A, leaving them third in the standings, behind leaders, Queen's Park, and Aberdeen, who are both a point clear.
The Dons, who welcome O'Ware's men to Pittodrie on Saturday, play Queen of the South tomorrow evening, meaning Kelty still remain in contention to progress for the time being.
The hosts went into their third game of the section on the back of a draw at Queen of the South, in which they won a penalty shoot-out bonus point, and a home reverse to Championship, Queen's Park, last Tuesday evening.
Kelty had faced their Highland League opponents at this stage of last year's competition, winning 4-0 away from home, and they made a fast start this time around.
Shanley, who had already shot wide, put them ahead after 10 minutes, steering home a lovely sidefoot finish after Dylan Corr picked him out inside the penalty area.
Lewis Moore and Alex Ferguson were then both off target, either side of Alisdair Sutherland driving over for Brora, who had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping the deficit at one.
Corr was again the provider for Shanley, sending a cushioned pass on the volley invitingly for the forward, but his header was blocked at point blank range by Cameron MacKay, much to the Kelty man's frustration.
Jamie Smith, in between the home side's posts, saved smartly from a stinging Craig MacKenzie effort, before thwarting Connor Bunce, after which Shanley lashed over at the other end.
But, just before the half hour mark, Brora levelled when Wallace, from the right edge of the penalty area, looped an effort into the net via a kiss off the far post.
Former Falkirk, Edinburgh City and Stirling Albion star Shanley continued to threaten, firing wide after the ball broke his way following determined play by Ross Cunningham, before the pair combined to put Kelty back in front.
Cunningham was the creator, sending his team-mate scampering in behind the Brora backline, ignoring their calls for offside, before coolly sending the ball across goal and into the far corner.
Moore was denied by a smart MacKay block early in the second half, after MacKenzie had fired over for the visitors, before Cunningham curled one into the keeper's arms.
However, 20 minutes into the second half, Brora levelled for a second time when Shane Sutherland, on at half time, finished well from Jake Rodgers' pass.
Corr then flashed a header wide as O'Ware's men looked to regain the initiative, and then he slashed wide of the near post after Shanley poked the ball into his path.
Finn Moffett, on as a substitute, may feel he should've done better with a curled attempt that was saved by MacKay, after good play from Moore to set him up, as the Maroon Machine continued to chase a decisive third goal.
In the end, they got it in stoppage time, when Moffett found the net, to keep Kelty still in with a chance of progressing.
Kelty Hearts: Smith, Brydon, Corr, C. Flatman (Walker 73), Hannah, Moore (Murray 79), Ferguson, McManus (Moffett 64), Cunningham, Higginbotham (Trialist 64), Shanley.
Subs not used: Z. Flatman, Fellows, Snoddy, Adamson.
Goals: Shanley (10, 37), Moffett (90).
Booked: Shanley (20), Ferguson (67).
Brora Rangers: MacKay, Nixon, Clark, MacKenzie (Dingwall 84), Anderson( S. Sutherland 45), Wallace (Kerr 45), Gardiner, Pullen, A. Sutherland (Wilson 73), Bunce, Rodgers.
Goals: Wallace (29), S. Sutherland (65).
Booked: Rodgers (60).
Referee: Euan Birch.
Attendance: 136.
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