Montrose 1 Kelty Hearts 1

MICHAEL TIDSER said he was "happy to get our first point on the board" after Kelty Hearts shared the spoils in their League One opener.

Ross Cunningham's fine half-volley, which cancelled out Craig Brown's effort, ensured the 'Maroon Machine' returned from Montrose with a point.

It was the second successive campaign in which Kelty began their league fixtures at Links Park, having won 2-0 there 12 months ago, but they couldn't be separated this time around.

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Cunningham, who replaced Liam Brown in the starting line-up shortly before kick-off for an away side that contained new signing, Scott Mercer, who was making his debut, twice fired long-range efforts over the bar in the first half, whilst Lewis Moore tested Cammy Gill in the home goal.

At the other end, Ruairidh Adams was needed to push a Sean Dillon header over, whilst Scott Williamson curled a decent effort off-target for Kelty.

After the break, Scott Allan came close for the away side, but they fell behind just before the hour mark when Brown, after taking a great touch turn away from Moore, fired a drive from range in off the post with his left foot to give Montrose the lead.

However, nine minutes later, Tidser's team levelled when Cunningham, from Brody Paterson's cross, took a touch before sending a shot, with a slight deflection, into the net from inside the penalty area.

Both Moore and Cunningham then had sights of goal for Kelty, before the latter provided an even better chance for Scott Williamson by finding him unmarked inside the penalty area, but he blasted over.

"I thought overall, first half, Montrose probably shaded it," Tidser told Kelty Hearts TV post-match.

"We went with a different shape in terms of a diamond to put the two up front. I thought first half it probably didn't work, so we tweaked it every so slightly, and we actually became better when they scored.

"Then, arguably, we probably could've won the game. I think we had, maybe, seven or eight shots on target, a few one-on-ones, a few free headers in the box, but, listen, Montrose are a really good side.

"This has never been an easy place to come. That's been two years in a row - we won last season, this season we've come up and taken a point - so I'm just happy to get our first point on the board, and move on to next week."

Tidser revealed that Brown was taken out of the starting line-up due to a groin issue, and was full of praise for Cunningham's contribution.

"I was 50-50 whether to start Broony or not," he continued.

"He's just feeling his groin at the moment, and he couldn't really get about during the warm-up, so I said to Rossco, who's probably been really frustrated, and we've had a couple of personal chats going forward, and I said to him before the game that football changes really quickly.

"You just need to be professional and show the right attitude, and he comes in today, scores, and has another chance as well. He's done himself no harm going forward.

"It's a good point on the road."