Kelty Hearts stung by late goal at Stirling Albion

KELTY suffered late heartbreak when Stirling Albion netted a goal at the death to take all the points.

The game hadn’t offered a lot for either side for the previous 87 minutes but a long range effort from Josh Cooper was enough to deny the West Fife side of any points.

The Stirling Albion substitute shot from outside the box and the ball somehow managed to evade Kyle Gourley and ended up in the back of the net.

Hearts boss Michael Tidser was frustrated after the match which he believed they edged.

“We were the better side, created the most chances and I said to the lads at half time that we need to be clinical and we would get our chances,” he said.

“I am obviously just disappointed with the outcome but that is football sometimes. To go away with nothing is hugely frustrating .

“I think if we had got the three points, nobody would have complained. We then go away with nothing is hugely frustrating. That’s football. It is about dusting yourself down and going again.”

Especially frustrating for Kelty was the way in which the goal was lost with Tidser acknowledging that an error from his keeper proved costly.

“I suppose it is a mistake from Kyle but I cannot be too critical, he has been excellent since he came in and we win and lose as a team. We are obviously disappointed with the outcome but that is football sometimes.

“It is a throw in to them on the left, there’s four or five bodies round it and we let them come in, myself as well, and then it is a shot.

“I don’t think there’s any momentum behind the shot and Kyle makes a mistake but these things happen in football. We all make mistakes. It is just when the goalkeeper makes it, it gets highlighted even more.

“You are then chasing your tail trying to get the equaliser and it isn’t going to happen. We had a couple of wee half chances, nothing clear cut but that is us just chapping the door trying to get a clear cut chance.

“I am frustrated, I am angry, I am disappointed but sometimes you have got to look at the positives.”

The first half came and went without either side producing too many scoring chances.

The foot of Kelty keeper Gourley was needed just after the 10 minute mark when Cameron Clark got the ball in the box after a corner.

His shot went towards goal however Gourley was able to kick it out.

Kelty had a half chance on 24 minutes through Craig Johnston. He got the ball in the box and shot but his effort was over.

Craig Johnston has a chance for Kelty shortly before Stirling's goal, but his attempt was scrambled clear. (Image: David Wardle)

The home side went close ten minutes later when Lewis Milne crossed into the Stirling Albion box. He found the head of Jack Leitch but he flicked his header just wide.

There was a chance for the visitors minutes before the break after Botti Biabi slotted the ball to Reece Lyon who was coming in outside him in the box.

He put in a shot which went across the goalmouth and just wide.

Minutes later, Stirling Albion could have gone ahead when Ross Davidson put Robert Thomson through. He placed the ball towards goal but put his effort wide.

In the second half, Stirling had the first chance on goal after 55 minutes but Gourlay produced a superb save to thwart Ross Davidson.

Kelty looked lively soon after when Jamie Walker danced around Aaron Dunsmore and squeezed in a cross which was cleared for a corner.

They came close just after the 70 minute mark when Tidser was brought down.

The player manager took the resulting set piece which came to Reece Lyon who hits the ball towards goal only to be beaten by a superb save by Blair Currie.

Soon after, it looked like Kelty had eventually broken the deadlong when Thomson put through Lyon. The ball came to Johnston and he looked destined to net but the ball was scrambled away.

With just three minutes left on the clock, disaster struck for Hearts when a long range shot from sub Josh Cooper somehow beat Kyle Gourley to give the home side the lead.

Kelty went close to levelling immediately when the ball came to Thomas O’Ware in the box but he hit over.

Stirling Albion: Currie, Clark, McGregor (Spence 74), Cummins, Dunsmore, Davidson, Carrick, Leitch (Hilson 61), Banner, Thomson (Cooper 69), Milne. Subs not used: Weir, Moore, Wyles.

Goals: Cooper (87) Booking: Cooper

Kelty Hearts: Gourley, Corbett, Walker, O’Ware, Thomson, Lyon, Johnston, (Daramola 77), Tidser, Biabi, O’Donnall. Subs not used: Owens L, Owens B, Campbell, Cameron.

Bookings: Walker

Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Attendance: 939