JOHN POTTER has said that his Kelty Hearts side should have ensured they came away with a least a point from Saturday's trip to Peterhead.

The New Central Park boss was disappointed after watching his team go down to a 2-1 defeat at Balmoor Stadium, with the Blue Toon having also gone down to 10 men before the interval.

Kelty travelled north hoping to build on their previous outing – an impressive 2-0 win at home to Falkirk – and move six points clear of Jim McInally's hosts, who were still seeking their first victory of the campaign.

Potter, who started new signing from Arbroath, Nicky Low, on the bench, was able to welcome Jordon Forster back in to the heart of his defence, as well as talisman Nathan Austin, who was making his first league start of the season, having featured from the bench against Clyde last month, following injury.

Kelty were looking to make a quick start against a side that had collected just one point from their opening six games but Peterhead's Ryan Strachan struck the upright at the far post after goalkeeper Darren Jamieson failed to gather at a corner.

However, with just six minutes gone, the hosts did strike first.

Steven Bell played a cross-field pass which Conor O'Keefe intercepted ahead of Lewis Martin. The Blue Toon midfielder drove to the edge of the box and, although Forster blocked his first shot, he reacted quickest to the loose ball, which he lobbed over Jamieson.

Kelty tried to respond, with Austin having a shot blocked after Joe Cardle picked him out with a cross, with Cardle, Forster and Kallum Higginbotham also trying to find a breakthrough, but not succeeding.

The visitors were given a boost in first-half stoppage time, however, when Chris Kisuka – who had been carded already for a foul on Darren Lyon – was shown a second yellow for a trip on Michael Tidser.

Almost immediately, Potter's men took advantage, levelling just five minutes after the restart.

Bell started the move, clipping the ball into Austin, who controlled on his chest, turned his opponent and fired a terrific left-foot shot from the edge of the box off the bar, from which Jamie Barjonas headed the rebound over goalkeeper, Tom Ritchie, and into the net for his first goal of the season.

Further chances fell to Higginbotham and Austin, who forced a fine block from Ritchie, but it was Peterhead who went back in front after 64 minutes.

Ritchie's clearance was won by Forster, before Ryan Dow nicked the ball back and, as it ran loose, O'Keefe tried an audacious effort from long range which caught out Jamieson and ended up in the back of the net.

Low, who came on for his debut, forced a decent save from Ritchie as Kelty searched for a second leveller but it never arrived as they fell to a fourth defeat from four on the road.

Potter, who takes his team to Annan Athletic tonight (Friday) in the SPFL Trust Trophy, commented: "It was disappointing, especially after coming off a good performance and result against Falkirk.

"We didn't start the game properly, which was something we spoke about, but we allowed them to get a lead. We kept the ball and had good possession in the first half, but we had no real threat.

"They score a freak goal (after the equaliser) and, from that, we huffed and puffed, hit the bar a couple of times. We did OK after that but not enough to win the game, especially as they were down to 10 men.

"The least we should be coming away with was a draw. The game shouldn't go like that.

"We're disappointed as a team, as individuals, and I'd like to think that is the case. It was an opportunity to build some momentum."

Last season, in League Two, Kelty lost one and won one of their two trips to Annan, and Potter, who has sought insight into their opponents from former Dunfermline team-mate, and current East Fife boss, Stevie Crawford, is viewing the SPFL Trust Trophy as a competition he wants to progress in.

"It's a competition we want to try and win," he said.

"It's an opportunity to win a cup, to progress, to win a game, and for guys to stake a claim.

"They are physically strong, have scored a lot of goals and Kelty, I think, had difficult times there last season.

"It will be a tough game."

Potter added that he hoped defender Tam O'Ware would resume training this week, with full back Reis Peggie also getting closer to a return from injury.