KELTY HEARTS boss John Potter believes his side have played better without the rewards that Saturday's home win over Queen of the South provided.

The New Central Park outfit struck three times in the final 20 minutes to pick up a third win from three League One meetings with the Doonhamers, whose manager, Marvin Bartley, described their showing as "embarrassing" and "not acceptable".

READ MORE: Higgy's the King of Hearts as Kelty defeat Queens

The hosts, who ended a run of four games without a win in all competitions, took the lead when Kallum Higginbotham coverted a penalty that was conceded by Stephen Hendrie for handball.

Alfredo Agyeman, six minutes later, raced clear to score his ninth goal of the season and double Kelty's lead, before Higginbotham, with his second of the day and fourth in three games, sealed the three points.

It ensured Kelty bounced back from their last-gasp home defeat to Falkirk in their last outing, and move to within seven points of the Championship play-off places.

"I'm happy with the result," Potter told Press Sport.

"Performance was disappointing first half. I thought we were too passive, couldn't get close, and didn't look after the ball, either.

"We changed things around a little bit second half and we were just much more like ourselves, without being brilliant. We've played a lot, lot better this year, and not won, and not even drew, actually.

"When you've got players up the pitch, and I still think we've got quality players, we took our chances and scored the goals. I'm delighted with the win.

"We're continually at them to be better, work hard and be ruthless. I think we were that; when we got chances, we took them. It's important we doing that moving forward.

"I think it's the one thing we've missed. In the main, we have created chances in a lot of games. We've just not taken them, and ended up losing games because of it, or drawing games.

"Today I didn't think we were particularly brilliant. We've played a lot better this year but played ok, took our chances, and you win the game."

Higginbotham's cool penalty, sending Kevin Dabrowski the wrong way, set Kelty on their way, and he commented: "I'll always back myself as you know! A free shot from 12 yards out; I don't mind taking that opportunity. I'm grateful it went in and managed to put us on the road to victory.

"We couldn't really get going in the first half, which I think is a lot of credit to Queen of the South. They came and they played football. They put us on the back foot, and I thought they dominated the first half, but we've shown a different side to us, and managed to keep them out.

"Second half, we changed formation, we put two up top and I think we started to get a foothold in the game.

"The first goal's always massive in any game and we were fortunate enough to get that.

"We've got that flexibility with the personnel we've got in the squad. We can change formation and we managed to do that in the second half, managed to get a foothold in the game, managed to get more players up the pitch, which then enables us to start putting pressure on their defenders.

"It seemed to work second half."

Visiting boss Bartley, who took charge at Palmerston last month, had watched his team win their previous two league games, and put on a strong performance in their last outing, despite going out of the SPFL Trust Trophy to Hamilton Academical, after extra time, in the semi-finals.

However, he was critical of his players post-match, accusing them of being "outfought" by their opponents, and said that they were playing for their livelihoods.

He offered an apology to the travelling Doonhamers fans and, it was put to him that it was a disappointing day for Queens, he replied: "Disappointing's putting it lightly. It was embarrassing.

"The performance in the first half wasn't acceptable, and I reminded the players of the standards we've set and we have to adhere too.

"I think maybe four or five got pass marks in the first half. Second half, that won't be a team that plays under me. That isn't acceptable and I've let the players know that.

"With a lot of players being out of contract in the summer, you're playing for your livelihoods and, for me that, as I said, is not acceptable.

"To play against a part time team... you're outworked, you're outfought, you don't want to do the hard yards, and no player will play underneath me, or no team will be a reflection of me, doing things like that."

The former Livingston assistant boss, a Scottish Cup winner with Hibernian as a player, said that being outfought was "one of the disappointing things" he observed from his side, who face league leaders Dunfermline at home this weekend.

"The goals we conceded, the handball's the handball, the referee's given it," Bartley continued.

"The second goal, Jack (Brydon) has to deal with a lot higher up the pitch, down the touchline. He has to take the ball, he has to back himself.

"The third goal, we switch off. It ricochets, yes. It falls to Higgy and he puts the ball in the back of the net. That isn't acceptable.

"Sometimes in football you think you've arrived, you get a few good performance, you get a couple of wins and you get plaudits for getting knocked out (of the SPFL Trust Trophy) from a team above, but it comes back to your bread and butter, and you think you just have to turn up.

"When you think you just have to turn up, things like this happen. I warned the players of that. At half time, I had a word with them, and then we get that in the second half.

"That's down to me. That's down to me to fix. I'm the manager of this football club, and I will fix it, but I'm embarrassed, and an apology to the fans who have travelled today.

"That's the most important thing for me to come out today. I apologise to them personally and on behalf of the players and the staff."