Match Report

Stephen Swift made 2 changes from the team that started at Stirling.

Euan O’Reilly was ruled out through injury after receiving several challenges on Saturday and Daz Christie dropped down to the bench.

Ross Forbes and Mikey Anderson both made their return to the staring XI as The Warriors look to make it 7 undefeated.

Before the match, both teams paid tribute those affected by the Russian attacks in Ukraine, particularly Maksym Kucheriavya the young Ukranian wh started the match for the visitors.

Kelty Hearts started the match well and it was clear that the Warriors were looking to be stubborn in their play and look to breakdown every Kelty Hearts attack.

However, the first real chance of the match came in 16 minutes when Sean Croghton cleared the ball up the line to Tam Orr. The striker took the neatest of touches to pass by the Kelty defence he ran into the box and cut the ball back to hi strike partner Robert Thomson. He pinned on the ball but never really got a clear chance to get a strike on goal and the chance fizzled out.

And it was just a few moments later when the Kelty attack got in behind the stubborn Warriors defence. This time though, Div Wilson stood tall and managed to clear the ball for a corner, which came to nothing.

Adam Corbett made a bursting run forward on 21 minutes. His cross caught out everyone, except the Kelty keeper who was backtracking and just managed to tip the ball over the bar as The Warriors picked up their first corner which was cleared by the defence.

Kelty started turning the screw a bit, and Joe Cardle managed to get some time for a shot inside the box, but Div Wilson, again, was equal to the Kelty Hearts attack. And it was Cardle that had the next shot of the match a few moments later, but this time the experienced midfielder failed to find the target.

There was time for Kelty to have one more attack of the half, but Higginbotham fired his shot well over the bar.

The very last chance of the half dropped to Tam Orr as he picked up a pass o the edge of the box. He dragged his shot wide though and the referee called a close to half.

The visitors have had the better of the half, but a solid back 4 of Yeats, Jamieson, Crighton and Corbett, along with Div Wilson have all made it a very frustrating 45 for the league leaders.

HALF TIME: STENHOUSEMUIR 0-0 KELTY HEARTS

The Warriors started the 2nd half sharply and almost took the lead inside a few minutes. Tam Orr got on the end of a pass over the top by Ross Forbes. He skinned his marker and fired the ball across the goal. Mikey Anderson was screaming for the ball to be cut back and you’ve got to believe that if the striker had saw him, The Warriors would be one up.

SUBSTITUTION: Warriors make their first change of the match as Adam Brown comes on to replace Ross Forbes [54 minutes]

Mikey Miller had the next notable chance of the match as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box. He was on his weaker foot though and failed to trouble the Kelty keeper.

Nathan Austin was introduced to the match and almost had an immediate impact. His neat touch took him round Jamieson, but with Yeats and Crighton covering, the league’s stop scorer couldn’t get a shot away and Crighton cleared the danger. The striker had an even easier chance a few moments later, but his shot inside the box was scuffed and it went harmlessly wide.

The Kelty defence got themselves into all sorts of trouble inside 66 minutes and Mikey Miller stole the ball off them. He passed to Thommo in the box. the box striker seemed to be bundled to the ground, however, the referee seems to have seen a foul by the big striker and his last action of the match is to concede a foul in the Kelty box.

SUBSTITUTION: Swifty makes his 2nd change with Robert Thomson making his way to the bench and he’s replaced by Daz Christie. [67 minutes]

Callum Yeats showed exactly why he’s so highly thought of at the Club. a through ball was inch perfect and an inch perfect, last man challenge by Yeats stopped a certain chance on goal, and just 3 seconds later managed to pick himself up and make another important interception. An inspired piece of defending by the on-loan Queens Park youngster.

The Warriors had the next chance with just 5 minutes to play. Some great build up on the left by Mikey Miller and Adam Brown saw the latter send the ball across the box to Tam Orr, he looked to get a shot but nothing opened up. He laid the ball off to Mikey Anderson but the young midfielder struggled to get a proper shot away and the ball went high and wide of the visitors goal.

GOAL: Just as it looked like the Warriors were going to get a well earned point from the match, one last moment of magic from Nathan Austin saw him time his run perfectly, and managed to chip the ball over the on-rushing Div Wilson from inside the box. [90+1 minutes]

FULL TIME: STENHOSUEMUIR 0-1 KELTY HEARTS

Absolute heartbreak for The Warriors who were very deserving of a point. The reaction to Kelty’s goal showed just how hard they felt they had to work to get the victory.