Michael Tidser's delight after Kelty's win at Arbroath

BEAMING Michael Tidser felt his Kelty Hearts stars could have scored "six or seven" after what he described as the most pleasing 90 minutes of his tenure at Arbroath on Saturday.

The in-form New Central Park outfit netted three goals in 10 second half minutes at Gayfield to go top of League One and maintain their unbeaten start.

The Lichties, who parted company with manager, and ex-Dunfermline boss, Jim McIntyre, immediately after the game, had no answer as their former player, Scott Allan, alongside Scott Williamson and Ross Cunningham, completed a superb victory for the 'Maroon Machine'.

"It's probably the most pleased I've been since I became manager," player / manager Tidser told Kelty Hearts TV.

"I say that because I thought, for the majority of the game, we were outstanding in terms of our shape, with the ball, without the ball, and then our play when we got a foothold in the game.

READ MORE: 'I gave him my word': Kelty skipper on staying put for new season

"To be honest with you, it could've probably been six or seven. I said that to the lads - that's probably my only criticism.

"But we scored three and probably had three or four right good chances. To be fair, what I will say is, first half, they had one good chance. My keeper's outstanding, pulls off two great saves, but, other than that, I think they huffed and puffed.

Michael Tidser was delighted with his team's display. (Image: David Wardle.)

"We could smell blood at 1-0. I said that to the lads at half-time, that if we get the first goal, we could go and win this comfortably here. Football's not easy but I could sniff in the game in terms of how it was going, and so it proved to be.

"Overall, as I say, I was really delighted with the performance and obviously the result."

Ruairidh Adams in the visiting goal was needed to produce a fine double stop to deny Innes Murray and Gavin Reilly in the first half, but Williamson twice came close for Kelty, who took the game away from Arbroath after the break.

Cunningham fired narrowly over from 20 yards but, when the breakthrough did come, it was a fine goal on the counter attack.

Craig Johnston began the move, deep inside his own half, switching play from right to left to Cunningham.

He then played the ball on to find the run of Allan, who showed his class to net with a cool, first-time sidefoot finish for his second goal in as many matches.

Cunningham was then denied by Aidan McAdams in the home goal, and skipper Tam O'Ware headed over, as the visitors searched for a second. It arrived six minutes after the opener.

It was another fine team effort, with Kelty winning the ball back on the left and playing it infield to Johnston, who sent on-loan Queen's Park forward Williamson scampering in behind the Arbroath defence to score his second goal for the club.

Scott Williamson scored his second goal for the club. (Image: David Wardle.)

Kelty sealed the points when Johnston again played the assisting role, this time playing in Cunningham, who drilled home from 16 yards to also score his second goal in successive matches.

Ross Cunningham netted Kelty's third goal at Gayfield. (Image: David Wardle.)

Tidser's men lead the way on goal difference from Queen of the South, with seven points, and welcome Inverness Caledonian Thistle to New Central Park on Saturday.

He added: "To single people out would be hard. It was a real team performance and I said that.

"I don't like to get too high and I try not to get too low. It's important that we just keep focusing on what we're doing.

"I think today was probably the point where the players go right, ok, we're a good side, and we believe in what we're trying to do and how we're trying to play, because I think you can see the way we try and play out.

"At times you'll get caught, at times you'll make mistakes, but that's fine, as long as we keep trying to do what we're doing.

"Today everything just kind of clicked and, hopefully, that's a springboard for the lads to really buy into it, which they have done to be fair, and kick-on in the season because it's a good start. But, as I touched on last week, that's all it is.

"It's a long season, there are still loads of games to play, so me, as a manager, as a player, it's important I just keep driving the standards and don't let anybody get slack."