SKIPPER Tam O'Ware admitted there was frustration in the Kelty Hearts camp following their first league defeat of the season but insists it's important to look at the bigger picture.

The New Central Park side saw their unbeaten start to the League One campaign ended by Cove Rangers on Saturday, a result which dropped them to third place.

They are one point adrift of both leaders, Alloa Athletic, who are one of only two teams who remain undefeated, and second top Queen of the South, going into this weekend's visit to play the former.

Ross Cunningham's leveller midway through the second period looked to have earned Kelty a share of the points against Cove, but Blair Yule's effort with four minutes to go, and Findlay Marshall's goal in stoppage time, saw the visitors claim victory.


READ MORE: Missed chances prove vital as Cove defeat Kelty with two late goals


"I thought we were excellent," O'Ware told Kelty Hearts TV post-match.

"There were wee parts of the game that I thought we could've done better on but, overall, it's a frustrating one.

"I thought we were the better team. I think we created the better chances, but we've given away two sloppy goals, and that seems to be the theme the last couple of weeks. That's what's disappointing.

Tam O'Ware and his Kelty team-mates will be aiming to bounce back at Alloa on Saturday.Tam O'Ware and his Kelty team-mates will be aiming to bounce back at Alloa on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

"We're not taking the chances that we're making, clear-cut chances, and we're giving away slack goals to the opposition.

"Obviously we go 1-0 down, we show good character to come back out second half to get the equaliser, and then again, an individual error for the goal.

"Listen, we'll all take that on board. Then we go chasing the game a wee bit and give the third away.

"But I just don't feel, last week against Dumbarton, and today, with the chances we have created, that we've got the points we deserve, but it's a learning curve, and that's something we're going to need to change."

When asked how he, as captain, handles such a frustrating defeat, O'Ware continued: "We just need to look at it overall.

"We've started, we've got nine points, we'd have probably taken that. If you'd have told us after this many games we'd be a point off the top, you would take that.

"We'll need to come in during the week, just get round everybody, and hopefully we can get a good reaction next week.

"You want to get back out after results like that. With that kind of disappointment, you want to get the next game as soon as possible.

"Alloa, again, are doing really well. They'll be confident after their two late equalisers today (against Inverness Caledonian Thistle), so it's another tough opposition, but one we're looking forward to going and playing against."