Preview Kelty Hearts

cinch League One (away), Saturday 24th December 2022, kick off 1.00pm at New Central Park

This Christmas Eve fixture kicks off at 1.00pm. No matter the result Dunfermline will be top of the league at Christmas but both sets of fans will be hoping for three points to give them and their team plenty of seasonal cheer.

In their first season in the third tier of Scottish football Kelty Hearts have recorded results to amass 23 points that should go a long way in confirming their League One status. The clubs have only met twice in senior competition with the Pars winning one and drawn one.

Competitive Results v Kelty Hearts

20/08/22 | Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0 | League One
29/10/22 | Dunfermline 2 Kelty Hearts 1 | League One

First Meeting at Kelty
Kelty Hearts 0 Dunfermline 0
Saturday 20th August 2022, League One

The first ever competitive match against Kelty Hearts was the Pars fourth league match of the season and it was a case of top of the table versus bottom. Form is said to go through the window when local derbies come along so there was hope for John Potter’s Kelty.

The first half saw efforts from Cardle and McGill and Breen and Edwards for the guests. There had only been three shots on target and one corner when the sides turned around.

Todd and Breen had attempts before a final push with several chances in added time. A long Edwards throw in Macdonald directed a header wide. Macdonald nearly got to another chance right in front of goal but again the defence held out. Todorov had a third minute of added time effort deflected over the bar and a shot from another Macdonald delivery but sent his effort wide right.

KELTY HEARTS: Darren Jamieson: Cammy Logan, Steven Bell, Jordan Forster, Lewis Martin: Michael Tidser (c), Jamie Barjonas (Robbie McNab 85), Darren Lyon: Kallum Higginbotham, Scott McGill (Ross Philp 67), Joe Cardle (Alfredo Agyeman 59)
SUBS NOT USED: Thomas O’Ware, Dougie Hill, Brodie Strang, Kyle Docherty, Finn Robson, Liam Campbell (GK)

DUNFERMLINE: Deniz Mehmet: Aaron Comrie, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen, Josh Edwards: Chris Hamilton: Matthew Todd, Joe Chalmers (Chris Mochrie 50): Kevin O’Hara, Lewis McCann (Nikolay Todorov 50), Craig Wighton (Kyle Macdonald 50)
SUBS NOT USED: Sam Fisher, Andrew Tod, Max Little (GK)

Recent Form

Kelty Hearts have won their last two league matches and coupled with their SPFL Trust Trophy win over Linfield on penalties, John Otter’s team are unbeaten in three. They have won five of their nine home league games, in fact lost only two - against FC Edinburgh and Montrose.

Dunfermline are undefeated in their last eight matches and have lost only twice away from home this season - against Premierleague Ross County and at Montrose. The Pars away form is better than their home form with six wins, 13 goals and only two conceded on the road.

Last six matches



DUNFERMLINE

Arbroath (A) W 5-1

Queen of the South (H) D 1-1

Forfar Athletic (H) W 4-0

Peterhead (A) W 2-0

Celtic B (H) W 2-1

Clyde (H) D 2-2



KELTY HEARTS

Queen of the South (A) W 2-1

Linfield (H) D 1-1
Peterhead (H) W 3-0

Partick Thistle (A) L 0-3
Airdrieonians A) L 0-1

Montrose (H) L 1-3



League Record



DUNFERMLINE

League Position: 1st

League Points: 36

Goal Difference: +15

Away League Record: P8 W4 D4 L0 GF11 GA7

Last Six Match Form: DWWWDW



KELTY HEARTS

League Position: 8th

League Points: 23

Goal Difference: -7

Home League Record: P9 W5 D2 L2 GF11 GA7

Last Six Match Form: LLLWDW

Last Time Out



DUNFERMLINE (v Arbroath): Deniz Mehmet: Sam Fisher, Kyle Benedictus (c), Rhys Breen: Kyle Macdonald, Chris Hamilton, Joe Chalmers, Josh Edwards: Matthew Todd: Craig Wighton (Andrew Tod 89), Nikolay Todorov (Taylor Sutherland 89).

SUBS NOT USED: Aaron Comrie, Jake Rennie, Sam Young, Michael Beagley, Max Little (GK)

KELTY HEARTS (v Queen of the South): Darren Jamieson: Cammy Logan (Nathan Austin HT), Jordon Forster, Lewis Martin, Reis Peggie (Robbie McNab 83): Darren Lyon, Nicky Low, Michael Tidser, Jamie Barjonas (Scott McGill 83), Kallum Higginbotham, Alfredo Agyeman (Joe Cardle 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Dougie Hill, Campbell, Cameron, Kamgna Junior, Doherty

Other League One Fixtures

Clyde v Alloa Athletic (Friday)
Falkirk v Queen of the South (Friday)
Montrose v Airdrieonians (Friday)
FC Edinburgh v Peterhead

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