KALLUM HIGGINBOTHAM insists that Kelty Hearts still have their sights on gatecrashing the promotion play-offs following last Saturday's success against Queen of the South.

The 33-year-old's brace, either side of Alfredo Agyeman's ninth goal of the campaign, helped John Potter's team to a third win from three League One meetings with the Doonhamers this season, moving them level on points with their opponents.

With 11 games to go, just eight points separate third-bottom Kelty, who are behind Queens on goal difference, from third-top Airdrieonians, in the battle for places in the end of season Championship play-offs.

FC Edinburgh, promoted last season alongside the New Central Park side, who won League Two, occupy fourth and the final play-off spot, with Potter's outfit seven points behind.

This weekend, Higginbotham and his team-mates travel to bottom club, Peterhead, and the experienced former Pars star acknowledges the importance of backing up their fine success over Marvin Bartley's team with another at Balmoor.

"In quite a few games this season, we've probably been on top for large parts of the game. Certainly, Dunfermline and Falkirk at home, those two spring to mind," he told Press Sport.

"It's good to come out on the right side of the result, and it keeps us in touch with the play-offs.

"That's ultimately our aim. Come the end of the season, we want to be in and around them.

"We need to go on a run of games. This is only one result – we cant get too carried away. We need to keep our heads down, keep working hard and, hopefully, come the end of the season, we manage to be in there.

"It's starting to get to the business end of the season. Every game matters. If you don't pick up wins, or you're losing, then the games start to run out quite quickly.

"We need to get a run of games going, a run of results, and hopefully that can spring us up the table."

Experienced attacker Higginbotham has had contrasting fortunes in play-off environments in his career.

In 2012, he started for Huddersfield Town, at Wembley, in the English Football League (EFL) League One final against Sheffield United, which they won on penalties, and, in 2016, helped Kilmarnock preserve their Scottish Premiership status with a two-legged success over Falkirk.

Two years later, however, he was part of a Dunfermline side that crashed out of the Premiership play-offs at the quarter-final stage to Dundee United.

Higginbotham, though, is hopeful that his recent goal glut – he's got four in his last three games, taking his season's tally to six – can help put Kelty in contention to be involved this term.

"I've managed to start hitting the back of the net, which is pleasing," he continued.

"I've never been a prolific goalscorer, but that's four in the last three games. I've just got to keep working away, keep working hard, and, hopefully, there's many more to come.

"It's good to get a couple of goals and three points, which is the main thing.

"We want to be looking up the league, so we knew we needed to win, and thankfully we managed to do that."