Heartbreaker!
Fauldhouse welcomed the Champions from last season and got in about them as early as two minutes, Stewart going close as United pressed. It didn't take long for Kelty to reply, Smith in space twenty five yards out sent a fierce shot whizzing just over the bar and a warning for the House. Eighteen minutes on the clock and nearly a howler from Allison as he almost spilled a shot from a free kick but recovered at the second attempt. Brian Ross headed down for striker McQuillan and his shot was unfortunately deflected for a corner twenty four minutes played. United were giving a good account of themselves playing some good football and Roberson shaved the top of the crossbar five minutes later. In what would have been a travesty Kelty nearly took the lead four minutes from the break but Murphy in the United goal somehow got his fingertips to a looping shot dropping behind him to force it over the bar...Half-Time, Fauldhouse United 0 Kelty Hearts 0.
Honours even early doors at the start of the second half but the breakthrough came for the visitors when from a corner kick flicked on by Leighton Cargill pounced to open the scoring, 1-0 the Hearts on the hour. Five minutes later the House were thrown a lifeline when Jacobs was red carded for something he said but United couldn't capitalise on the one man advantage and paid for it as they were done from another corner kick this time Smith prodding home 2-0 and an uphill task now. United never gave up and were rewarded when Robertson was alive in the penalty box to find the bottom left hand corner of the net 2-1 with less than ten minutes remaining but Kelty held firm to see the game out...Final Score, Fauldhouse United 1 Kety Hearts 2.
"The Parkview"
Fauldhouse United: Murphy,Stewart,Lawson,Watson,Fallon,Browne,Robertson,B,Ross,McQuillan,Donnelly,Miller. Subs: Peace(gk),Aitkin,K.Ross,Wilkins.
Kelty Hearts: Allison, Jacobs, Leighton, O'Neill, T. Courts, C. Courts, Husband, Carstairs, Smith, Cargill, Currie, Subs: Hughes, Gates, O'Reilly, Ritchie, McCabe.
