The Fife team will be a most welcome addition to the Lowland League both on and off the field, as the facilities they have at New Central Park are up there with the best and would put a lot of SPL teams to shame. On the park they have a side that is used to winning and not many teams will leave Fife with three points in the bag.Star travelled north with a couple of players unavailable and another two carrying suspensions from the previous season with other clubs. However the players that performed did the club proud and gave all they had to take a point back home, and it was very nearly three. On a 4G pitch the conditions were difficult due to a strong blustery wind that swept across the park for the entire 90 minutes. Star struggled at times, particularly in the first half to adapt to the conditions but credit to the home side who certainly coped much better.With all the hype and excitement surrounding Kelty’s first match in a new league, in front of a very large crowd, it was important Star kept things as tight as possible in the first 20 minutes or so. Other than a couple of inswinging corners and a Taylor-MacKenzie free kick, the Star defence looked fairly comfortable but in the other half they made little or no impact. However seconds after the 20 minute mark the home side went ahead much to annoyance of the visiting defence. Brian Ritchie fell into Hugh Cameron knocking the centre back to the ground inside the Star box but the referee waved play on and this allowed Kelty to fire in an enticing cross from the right and there was Mathew Gay who rose highest in the middle to fire a powerful header past Ross Wilson.The home side continued to press but Star remained disciplined and there were little or no clear cut chances. Six minutes from the break they came close though when Scott Dalziel clipped the top of the bar from some distance. Playing into the strong wind you felt if Star could get into half time with just a one goal deficit, then they could perhaps mount a more serious assault on the home defence with the wind in their back in the second period. However with just a minute left they went one better by equalizing. Liam Park and Lewis Todd combined well down the right and a diagonal run and pass picked out Farrel O’Sullivan on the left and the youngster played in a superb cross along the six yard line and there was Dean Brotherston in the right place at the right time to slide the ball home. There was something of a stunned silence among the home support during the interval as this was most certainly not in the script.The goal obviously gave the visitors a huge boost and in the second half they looked a lot more assured and comfortable in possession. The home side though pushed forward at every opportunity but both defences were well on top and it would take something special for either side to find the back of the net. That something special duly arrived with just under 20 minutes left when Liam Park went on another of his trademark blistering runs which was ended some 25 yards from goal. The free kick was on the soft side and you could understand Kelty’s annoyance at its award, but when you travel at the speed Liam can, then it only takes a slight infringement to knock him off balance. It was the perfect distance and angle for a Sloany special and he yet again delivered when he needed to most. The ball flew high into the postage stamp corner of the goal and the visiting fans almost took it for granted he would score. Indeed his record from that sort of distance is probably better than from the penalty spot.Star could now see the possibility of a fine victory but the home sides response was swift. Just seven minutes after falling behind they themselves were awarded a free kick that was even softer than Star’s after Curtiss Wilson was penalised for doing, well in actual fact not a lot. Scott Taylor-MacKenzie had had two efforts in the first half saved but this time it was third time lucky as he curled in a beauty giving Ross Wilson no chance in the Star goal. It was game on now for both sides and the closest we came to a winner was when Star’s teenage substitute Aiden Kerr met Sloan’s cross with a diving header but keeper Scott Christie made a fine save to keep his side level. Kelty threw ball after ball into the Star box but keeper Wilson time and again came out to collect crosses and relieve the pressure from his defence and they were able to see out the match.Despite leading with less than 15 minutes left Star could not be disappointed with just a draw. The home side had by far more of the possession but Star deserved a point for all their effort and endeavour. Kelty are an impressive outfit and the Lowland League will be all the better for them being in it. Considering the players that were missing this was a result few expected for Star. But we shouldn’t be surprised in the slightest as this squad of players time and again show a great work ethic and desire, to match their undoubted ability. This will give them a boost going into what is a really difficult start to the campaign.Next up is a visit to Islecroft by one of the favourites for the title East Kilbride, and they showed they really mean business this term thrashing Selkirk by ten goals to nil at the weekend, so it should be a cracker.
KELTY HEARTS 2 DALBEATTIE STAR 2
M Gay (21) Brotherston (44)
Taylor-MacKenzie (78) Sloan (71)
HT 1-1
KELTY HEARTS: Christie, Ford (Cargill 84), Taylor-MacKenzie, Douglas, Chalmers, Ritchie, Nimmo, Philp, Husband (C Gay 67), M Gay (Greig 75), Dalziel
Subs not used: Carstairs, Hare, Trialist
Yellow Cards: Taylor-MacKenzie, Douglas
DALBEATTIE STAR: R Wilson, Park, Thorburn, Todd, Cameron, C Wilson, Milligan, Wells, Brotherston (Green 85), Sloan, O’Sullivan (A Kerr 62)
Subs not used: Mason
Yellow Cards: Cameron, Todd