Kelty Hearts 0-0 Pars

THE spoils in the first Fife derby of the season were shared as Kelty Hearts and the Pars failed to breach the net at New Central Park this afternoon.

In the first-ever competitive meeting of the clubs, the home side picked up their first League One point, and clean sheet, whilst spoiling their opponents' perfect record.

In a game of few opportunities, John Potter's hosts had the better of the first half, going close through Scott McGill and Jamie Barjonas, while Dunfermline's best moments came from a Rhys Breen header and a Lewis McCann shot.

James McPake's team, knocked off top spot on goal difference by Airdrieonians, who they entertain next week, didn't create enough against a home side that denied them space, pressed well and deserved to take something from the match.

They remain bottom of the table, but can take heart, and confidence, going into Tuesday's SPFL Trust Trophy tie at Forfar Athletic, and next Saturday's league trip to Montrose.

Home boss Potter made four changes to the team that were beaten 3-0 at Clyde last time out.

Robbie McNab, Ross Philp, Alfredo Agyeman and Kyle Doherty all dropped to the bench, with ex-Par Steven Bell, making his debut, coming in alongside Darren Lyon and loanee Scott McGill, and another former Athletic man, Kallum Higginbotham.

Out since the first game of the campaign, a Premier Sports Cup defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last month, Higginbotham's return in particular was a welcome one for the hosts, who saw Nathan Austin miss out.

McGill, on loan from Heart of Midlothian, and Lyon were making their home bows, having appeared from the bench during the defeat in South Lanarkshire, whilst Joe Cardle and Lewis Martin were also facing their former club.

For James McPake, it was a case of 'same again', as he entrusted the team that defeated Montrose last week to maintain their perfect record heading into the derby.

New loan signing Sam Fisher, a central defender who arrived midweek from Dundee, was named on the bench, where last week's match winner, Nikolay Todorov, remained despite his critical cameo performance.

For the first ever competitive league meeting between the clubs, the atmosphere was tremendous as a big crowd - including a packed Pars end - greeted the teams at kick off.

Both sides came out with a high intensity but it was Kelty who had the game's first effort, with Cardle sending a tame shot at Mehmet from the edge of the area after being teed up by Michael Tidser from a throw-in.

They came closer in the 18th minute in, despite plenty of endeavour on both sides, one of the encounter's few early opportunities.

Dunfermline were indebted to Rhys Breen, who made an excellent, sliding recovery block after McGill, having been played in by Jamie Barjonas, cut on to his right inside the penalty area before shooting for goal.

Potter's men had made a promising start, and it took Athletic until midway through the half to register their first effort, with a Breen header from a Joe Chalmers cross well held by Darren Jamieson.

At the other end, Barjonas found himself with a shooting chance, inside the penalty area on the left, but Kyle Benedictus was there this time to block.

Josh Edwards showed Lyon a clean pair of heels soon afterwards with a superb piece of play on the left, before whipping in a cross that Bell diverted high towards his own goal, with Jamieson able to claim, before Lyon almost put Kelty ahead.

After racing on to a pass played forward, he went down under pressure from Chalmers inside the box.

Although it was not a penalty, the former Queen's Park player quickly got back to his feet, got on the ball and fired an effort towards the near post, with Deniz Mehmet called upon to make a crucial save.

It was an opening period of few opportunities, particularly for the Pars, but they did have a sight of goal as the half came to a close when a cross was cleared out to Matthew Todd, but the midfielder didn't catch his effort from distance properly, and dragged it wide.

Within a minute of the restart, however, Lewis McCann had a sight of goal for the visitors, from a Craig Wighton pass, but his effort just cleared the bar at the near post.

However, minutes later, McCann, Wighton and Chalmers were all substituted, with Todorov, Kyle MacDonald and Chris Mochrie all sent on.

Just before the hour, Potter made his first switch, sending on Agyeman for Cardle, who was given a warm ovation from both sets of supporters, with the Pars fans recognising his two successful spells as a player, and Agyeman was immediately in the action.

He had a shot blocked, before Lyon had an attempt, which he pulled wide.

Agyeman was in the thick of it once more moments later, showing some lovely feet to create space for himself to shoot, but his effort lacked power and was an easy gather for Mehmet.

There were better moments for the Pars in the 69th minute.

Firstly, O'Hara showed good pace and strength to break away on the right and pull a cross back for Chris Hamilton, who fired his shot well off-target, before Matthew Todd drove forward moments later and fired an effort at goal.

Jamieson did well to beat the midfielder's fierce drive down and, as the ball spilled loose, he was on hand to hold from a Todorov header after he was picked out at the far post.

MacDonald made a big difference for the Pars and, in the 76th minute, he turned Agyeman superbly on the right before crossing.

Jordon Forster, outstanding for Kelty, headed it clear but the ball broke for Todd, who slashed the ball wide of the far post.

Moments later, Jamieson was Kelty's hero, making a superb block from Breen after he had got his foot to a terrific Edwards cross from the left, as the Pars looked for a winner.

However, none was forthcoming, despite a late effort wide from Todorov, as Kelty deservedly earned their first point, and clean sheet, of the League One season, while Dunfermline lost their perfect record ahead of next week's top of the table clash with Airdrie.

Match stats

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Logan, Forster, Bell, Martin, Barjonas (McNab 85), Tidser, Lyon, Cardle (Agyeman 59), McGill (Philp 67), Higginbotham.

Subs not used: O'Ware, Hill, Strang, Robson, Doherty, Campbell.

Booked: Forster (39).

Pars: Mehmet, Comrie, Benedictus, Breen, Edwards, Hamilton, Chalmers (MacDonald 50), Todd, O'Hara, McCann (Todorov 50), Wighton (Mochrie 50).

Subs not used: Fisher, Tod, Little.

Booked: Todd (41).

Referee: Graham Grainger.

Attendance: 2,161.