KELTY HEARTS 1 – 1 ARBROATH, Saturday 22nd March 2025, William Hill League One
Keith Watson had put the league leaders in front midway through the first half, but the Lichties were held to a second consecutive 1-1 draw as a stoppage time goal from Callum Flatman earned Kelty Hearts a share of the spoils against Arbroath at New Central Park on Saturday afternoon.
Arbroath’s first chance fell the way of Sam Stanton following a clever flick from Andy Winter, but his effort was knocked behind by Ryan Adamson in the home goal.
Stanton went even closer on 17 minutes with his strike coming back off the upright, but that wasn’t the end of the move with the ball worked back into the middle to David Gold, who picked out Watson in the middle to score his first goal in maroon, stroking the ball into the net via the far post.
Kelty did begin to threaten though, and a quick counterattack almost brought them an equaliser, with Aidan McAdams doing well to deny Luke McCarvel’s effort just before the half hour mark, while Fraser Taylor caused trouble at the other end, forcing two saves from Adamson.
McCarvel continued to be the hosts’ main threat after the break and looked destined to score after showing great feet to create a shooting opportunity, but once more he was denied by a smart McAdams save.
The home side did begin to gain more of a foothold as the second half progressed, albeit failing to properly trouble McAdams, and were almost made to pay the price with an Arbroath counter. Jack Wilkie did well to win back possession in the middle of the park, with Winter driving forward before forcing Adamson into a good save low to his right.
Just as the game looked sure to end in the favour of the Lichties though, the home side found a leveller. Tam O’Ware rose highest in the middle to head a free-kick goalwards which McAdams kept out, but he couldn’t hold on to the ball and Flatman was on hand to force the ball home and earn a point for the Fife side.
Kelty Hearts: Adamson; Flatman, O’Ware, Broadfoot; MacIntyre, Brown, McClure, Paterson; Cunningham (Allan, 67), McCarvel (McLeish, 76); Johnston
Arbroath: McAdams; Steele, Muirhead, Watson, Wilkie; Flynn (O’Brien, 82), Gold (Spalding, 54); Stewart, Stanton, Taylor (King, 82); Winter
Attendance: 724
