Kelty Hearts 3 Dumbarton 2
Kelty Hearts boss Tam O'Ware saluted his "excellent" side's win at the weekend - but revealed it could come at a cost.
The Maroon Machine bounced back from their 4-1 loss at Elgin City last time out by beating Dumbarton at New Central Park.
Goals from Jamie Hislop, Lewis Moore, and Alex Ferguson, saw them turn the contest around after Leighton McIntosh had put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
A second win from as many home League Two outings this term, and the nature in which it was delivered, pleased O'Ware.
However, he said that Moore, forced off to be replaced by Finn Moffett in first half stoppage time, could face a period on the sidelines.
The 28-year-old has netted in both home wins - the other came against Stirling Albion - and had featured in each of Kelty's competitive up to and including Saturday's.
Losing Moore came after O'Ware had to contend with the absence of attacking midfielder, Ross Cunningham, due to an issue picked up ahead of the game, and defender, Dylan Corr, who he said will be out "for a substantial period of time".
"Moorey, again, we've spoken to him about adding goals to his game," O'Ware said post-match.
"It's unfortunate today he's picked up an injury that we think might keep him out for 4-6 weeks, but we'll wait and assess that during the week."
Despite suffering an injury blow, Moore more than played his part in what his manager felt was a well-deserved success over the Sons.
They had to fight back, however, after McIntosh sent Jamie Smith the wrong way from the spot, after Ferguson had been penalised for handball, following Ali Omar's attempt to hook goalwards from a free-kick.
It looked like there was little that the Kelty midfielder could do to get out the way, but, within three minutes, his team were level.
After Robbie Cole was fouled at the edge of the box, on loan Ayr United youngster Hislop, who had already been denied by Dumbarton keeper, Aidan Rice, took responsibility.
The 18-year-old proceeded to curl the ball around the wall, and into the bottom right-hand corner, for his second goal in three Kelty appearances.
Almost straight from kick off, the hosts then turned the game around.
Thomas Falconer played a forward pass into the feet of Cole, who held the ball up well to the left edge of the box, before playing it infield for Moore.
He then produced great feet to spin away from Alasdair Spalding, before sending a low, driven shot from the edge of the area, that deceived Rice, into the bottom corner.
With 17 minutes to go, the hosts wrapped up the points and, perhaps fittingly, it was Ferguson who did so.
A loose Spalding pass back towards his own goal was seized upon by Shanley, who sprinted ahead of two Dumbarton defenders to take the ball around Rice.
Whilst his touch took him too wide to go for goal, he spotted the run of Innes Murray, playing the ball for him.
However, Murray showed great intelligence to dummy it for onrushing team-mate Ferguson, who calmly stroked home first time from 12 yards.
"I thought we were excellent. I thought we deserved the win," O'Ware noted.
"The reaction to going a goal down - I've not seen the penalty incident back - but we deal with it. We show a great reaction.
"Jamie Hislop's free-kick is a great way to get back in the game, and it comes so quick after conceding that it gets our backs up. We then go ahead.
"My disappointment first half is we maybe could've nicked another one, if that final pass was right.
"Then, second half, we made sure the message was clear that it's not coming out and sitting in our own half. We have to continue to press high and get after them, and we did that.
"We rode that wee storm for 10 minutes, when they chucked everything at it, and then we scored a tremendous third goal from nothing but hard work. The press that forces them into a slight error, and then Ryan Shanley gets on the end of it.
"But the thing I love about the third goal is the composure in front of goal, and Innes Murray, again, coming on and showing a great attitude to impact the game and it's a great step over for Fergie to finish it off.
"Overall, really pleased. I felt we deserved the win and we look forward to next week."
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