Kelty Hearts 2 Annan Athletic 1
TAM O’WARE said it was an “incredible reaction” as Kelty Hearts hit back from Annan Athletic’s late equaliser to claim a third successive home league win.
The Maroon Machine led through Innes Murray’s stunning early effort at New Central Park before Annan captain Tommy Muir headed in from a corner with less than 10 minutes remaining.
However, substitute Nathan Lawson restored the home side’s advantage only minutes later, curling home what proved to be the winner and moving the club up to fifth in SPFL League Two.
O’Ware said: “The goal was slack from a set-piece, but it’s an incredible reaction to go and get the winner. I give them massive credit for that.
“So it’s a big three points and, again, we need to try and build on it.”
The hosts, who only won one league game in the village last season, had been looking to put last week’s defeat at Stranraer behind them, with two changes.
Fin Moffett and Murray, who had just welcome a wee one into his family, came into the starting XI for Ross Cunningham and the injured Ryan Shanley, after he rolled his ankle in training.
Both sides had early penalty claims waved away by referee Greg Soutar before the men in maroon took the lead.
Robbie Cole flicked the ball into the path of Moffett, who kept his composure amid offside appeals before teeing up Murray.
The midfielder took one touch to set himself before curling a superb right-footed effort into the back of the net.
The home side continued to look dangerous during the opening half-hour, although they suffered an early blow when Moffett was forced off injured and replaced by Cunningham, with the youngster expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.
Annan’s first meaningful chance arrived in the 34th minute, when Steven Buchanan’s dribbling in the home box won a corner.
The set-piece was dealt with and the Fife side quickly created another opening, with Cunningham bringing down a high ball just outside the box before dragging an effort narrowly wide.
Cole then produced some impressive hold-up play to release Jamie Hislop, but the Ayr United loanee saw his left-footed shot saved by Charlie Albison.
The visitors had the final chance of the first half as Buchanan cut inside on to his left foot, but curled his effort wide.
At the break, O’Ware urged his side to keep attacking rather than sit too deep.
He said: “We went into half-time and the message had to be to play forward, press forward and be high up the park, because I don’t want any wee doubts.
“For me, at 1-0, it’s an opportunity, with how the game was going, to go and get a second and a third.”
Annan came out with greater purpose after the restart and Alisdair Davidson had to head a long throw off the line before the visitors began to build pressure.
Buchanan brought a strong save from Jamie Smith, with Davidson again clearing the danger from the loose ball after the goalkeeper was unable to hold the strike.
They away side threatened again from the resulting corner as Keith Watson headed wide at the back post.
A triple substitution in the 76th minute saw the hosts shift to a five-man defence in an effort to protect their slender lead.
But their resistance was broken shortly afterwards.
Annan player-manager Willie Gibson sent a corner into the box and Muir powered a header into the bottom corner to bring the visitors level.
The home side did not allow the disappointment of conceding to linger.
Alex Ferguson delivered a brilliant cross from the left and Lawson, who had come on in the 67th minute, curled the ball into the inside netting to restore the advantage with five minutes remaining, sealing his first for the club.
The on loan East Kibride forward almost added a second late on when he found himself one on one with Albison, while his effort later bounced back off the post before Kallum Higginbotham fired the follow-up over.
With Annan committing bodies forward in search of another equaliser, the men in maroon held firm to secure a the victory.
The Kelty boss admitted the players had become too cautious after Murray’s opener but credited the result.
He said: “We scored the goal and I think because it means that much to them, they then go, ‘Let’s not give anything away for five minutes.’
“But then that five minutes turns into 15 minutes, that five minutes turns into half-time.
“Today, after the goal, I thought we were panicking our clearances and panicking in possession. We didn’t play how I know we can.
“Today’s main objective was to get three points. We’ve done that and we give them credit for the reaction.
“We made the point that this has to be our ground where it’s tough to come to.”
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