Tidser praises ‘absolutely brilliant’ defensive show as Kelty earn point

Cove Rangers 2 Kelty Hearts 2 SPFL League One

KELTY HEARTS player / boss Michael Tidser praised his team’s “absolutely brilliant” defensive work despite being pegged back to draw at Cove Rangers.

The New Central Park outfit looked on course for their third win of the League One season at the Balmoral Stadium when Adam Corbett’s second minute header, and Billy Owens’ superb strike 10 minutes from the break, put them two goals up.

Two minutes later, however, Mitch Megginson pulled one back for Paul Hartley’s side - relegated from last season’s Championship - before the same player levelled from the spot, 10 minutes after the interval, after a handball was awarded against the visitors.

Kelty played out the final three minutes of the 90, plus stoppage time, with 10 men after experienced defender Jason Thomson was shown red for a foul on Scott Williamson, and held out for a point.

“The boys defended absolutely brilliant. At the end of the game, we’ve got three, four kids on, so that tells you where we’re at,” Tidser told Press Sport.

“We’ve not got an array of money to go and bring in 25 players, so it’s important that these young lads are ready when called upon, and they’ve grown into it over pre- season. Young Scott Cameron comes on, Billy Owens, again, a young lad that I’ve signed for the first team, has come in and done really well, scored a great goal, so there will be opportunities for these boys. It’s just whether they can go and take them, impress, and show that they’re good enough to go and play at League One level.

“It’s good for me but it’s also good for them to get minutes on the pitch, and learn and understand how it works at first team level.

“Cove are a good side. They’ve always been challenging and up there. I know in the Championship they came down, but they’re a fulltime club with, dare I say it, bigger resources than us, and bigger budgets.

“It always helps when you’ve got more money to sign players, you’re full- time, and you’ve got those hours on the pitch. It’s difficult for us. It’s a test for all part- time teams, but there’s no excuses from us. It’s just a case of can we go and compete? Where are we at as a club?

“We’ve got Falkirk this week, then Queen of the South, so I’ll probably have a better indication in terms of how far we are away from making a stamp on this league, and trying to do well.

“We’re in a decent enough place so it’s about trying to keep momentum building.”

On the spot- kick awarded against his side, Tidser said: “I’ve looked at it back. It’s very difficult to see. The camera angle’s not great in terms of you see it coming into the box, and you see the shot getting hit. I think it was wee ( Fraser) Fyvie that hit it.

“It’s hard for me to see. I don’t want to be that type of guy that complains. The ref, he was quick to give it. I think it was Botti Biabi; I don’t think he can do anything about it. It’s hit that hard and that close that it’s difficult to see.

“At the time, I thought it was a right good block to be honest with you, but it’s one of those ones. It’s hard for refs as well. He’s given it and it’s one of those ones you just take your medicine. You just need to get on with it; there’s nothing you can do. You just hope over the season that, with the ones that don’t go for you, you’ll maybe get one when you’re least expecting it.

“I’m disappointed. They huffed and puffed, they didn’t really cut us open to be honest with you. It came from a wordly strike at the edge of the box from a set play, and then obviously the penalty as well.

“On reflection, when you take a breather from the game, to be 2- 0 up is probably my biggest gripe, but they’re a good side. Towards the end, I don’t mean that we were hanging in, but we got Jason sent off, so it became a bit end- to- end. They were going to try and get the win, but we managed to get the point, which I think we probably deserved overall considering we were 2- 0 up.”

Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Corbett ( Cameron 59), O’Ware, Thomson, B. Owens, Lyon, Cunningham, McCluskey, Tidser, O’Donnell ( L. Owens 87), Biabi ( Daramola 66). Subs not used: Hunter, Campbell.

Goals: Corbett ( 3), B. Owens ( 35). Red card: Thomson ( 87). Booked: McCluskey ( 20), Cunningham ( 50), Corbett ( 52), Tidser ( 77).