Kelty Hearts: Michael Tidser reflects on Dunfermline defeat

KELTY HEARTS may have left KDM Group East End Park disappointed to go out of the SPFL Trust Trophy but Michael Tidser believes their derby day clash can give them "something to build on".

The 'Maroon Machine', who are top of League One, were knocked out of the competition by Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday after their opponents came from behind to secure victory.

Craig Johnston gave Kelty a 15th-minute lead when he reacted quickest to net on the rebound after Ross Cunningham's fierce drive had been saved by Pars goalkeeper, Deniz Mehmet.

However, just eight minutes later, Chris Kane headed the Championship side level, before Matty Todd finished from close range to give them the lead.

Kelty couldn't find a route back into the contest, with Ross Cunningham's free-kick that flashed just wide of the far post late on as close as they came, whilst Kane also had a second half strike disallowed for offside.

READ MORE: Kelty 'weren't as brave' in Dunfermline loss - Tidser

"Listen, I knew we would come and try and cause them problems, and I think when you get the goal, you want to hold on to it as long as you can, and that's probably the biggest thing," player / boss Tidser reflected.

"But again, they're a good side. There's no doubt about it. A Championship side, they're full-time, all these factors do play into it, and you could probably see that for spells. The lads were dead on their feet and we only had two subs to make.

"So yeah, listen, if you can hang in as long as you can, and then the last 10, 15 (minutes), you could see we were starting to maybe try and come back into it again, and you start to give them a wee fright. You get a couple of corners, a couple of different areas of the park where we can hurt them.

Dunfermline recovered from going a goal down to reach the quarter-finals at Kelty's expense. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"Overall, disappointed, but it's something for us to build on and move into our league campaign."

Tidser, who himself missed out due to a calf issue picked up at Queen of the South in Kelty's previous match, was only able to name four substitutes for the tie, which included goalkeeping coach, Dave McGurn.

He was without on-loan goalkeeper Ruairidh Adams, and defender, Sam Harding, who were both cup-tied after playing for parent club Dundee United's 'B' side earlier in the tournament, as well as the likes of Luke McCarvel, Scott Allan, Lewis Moore and Adam Corbett.

"I thought we started the game really well, obviously got our goal, and then we have a wee dip," Tidser continued.

"We're probably not as brave as we should be. To be fair, they're a good side. They press well, probably better than most teams in our league, but then, going into the second half, they dominated for larger spell. But in saying that, I've literally got 14 players out there.

"My goalie's not played much, (Callum) Flatman's coming back, wee Billy's (Owens) not played much, Robbie Cole's not played, so, the positives for me today, as defeatist as it sounds, is getting through the game without any injuries and then the loan boys will come back next week, myself will come back.

"Listen, I don't like getting beat, but the boys done enough to show that, you know, they're good enough to come and play, and it's something for us to build on."