2021–22 Kelty Hearts F.C. season

The 2021–22 season was Kelty Hearts' first season in the Scottish Professional Football League following their promotion from the Lowland Football League at the end of the 2020–21 season.[1][2] Kelty participated in Scottish League Two and also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Kelty Hearts
2021–22 season
ChairmanIan Thomson
ManagerKevin Thomson
StadiumNew Central Park
Scottish League TwoWinners
League CupGroup stage
Challenge CupFirst Round South
Scottish CupFifth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Nathan Austin (17)
All: Nathan Austin (21)
Highest home attendance2,183 vs. St Johnstone, Scottish Cup, 22 January 2022
Lowest home attendance392 vs. East Fife, League Cup, 17 July 2021
Average home league attendance650

Summary

edit

This was Kelty Hearts' first season under the management of Kevin Thomson following the departure of Barry Ferguson, who had led the club to promotion the previous season.[3]

Kelty entered the Scottish Cup at the second round and would eliminate then cup holders St Johnstone on their way to the fifth round before being eliminated by St Mirren.[4] Kelty were declared champions 26 March with a victory over Albion Rovers, which secured the league title and back to back promotions to League One.[5][6][7]

Competitions

edit

Results and fixtures

edit

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish League Two

edit
31 July 2021 1 Kelty Hearts 2–0 Cowdenbeath New Central Park
15:00 BST Cardle   38'
Philp   69'
Report Attendance: 1,202
Referee: Calum Scott
7 August 2021 2 Stirling Albion 1–3 Kelty Hearts Forthbank Stadium
15:00 BST Forster   67 o.g.' Report Forster   39'
Cardle   40'
Higginbotham   56'
Attendance: 601
Referee: Graham Grainger
14 August 2021 3 Forfar Athletic 2–2 Kelty Hearts Station Park
15:00 BST Aitken   17 pen.'
Thomson   45+1'
Report Austin   22', 64' Attendance: 623
Referee: Chris Graham
21 August 2021 4 Kelty Hearts 1–0 Edinburgh City New Central Park
15:00 BST Barjonas   54' Report Attendance: 677
Referee: Steven Reid
28 August 2021 5 Stenhousemuir 1–4 Kelty Hearts Station Park
15:00 BST Brown   23' Report Agyeman   13', 71'
Cardle   33'
Barjonas   66'
Attendance: 436
Referee: Alan Newlands
11 September 2021 6 Kelty Hearts 1–1 Elgin City New Central Park
15:00 BST Higginbotham   90+3' Report MacPhee   30 pen.' Attendance: 608
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
18 September 2021 7 Albion Rovers 0–3 Kelty Hearts Cliftonhill
15:00 BST Report Austin   11', 20', 63' Attendance: 427
Referee: Grant Irvine
25 September 2021 8 Kelty Hearts 1–0 Stranraer New Central Park
15:00 BST Austin   8' Report Attendance: 528
Referee: Stewart Luke
2 October 2021 9 Kelty Hearts 2–1 Annan Athletic New Central Park
15:00 BST Barjonas   37'
Higginbotham   74'
Report Wallace   43' Attendance: 674
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
15 October 2021 10 Edinburgh City 2–3 Kelty Hearts Ainslie Park
15:00 BST See   16'
Murray   88'
Report Austin   22', 48'
Tidser   37'
Attendance: 726
Referee: Peter Stuart
30 October 2021 11 Kelty Hearts 1–1 Stirling Albion New Central Park
15:00 BST Cardle   62' Report Scally   65' Attendance: 937
Referee: Ross Hardie
6 November 2021 12 Cowdenbeath 0–1 Kelty Hearts Central Park
15:00 BST Report Cardle   76' Attendance: 727
Referee: Iain Snedden
13 November 2021 13 Kelty Hearts 1–0 Forfar Athletic New Central Park
15:00 BST Agyeman   47' Report Attendance: 856
Referee: Chris Fordyce
20 November 2021 14 Kelty Hearts 2–0 Stenhousemuir New Central Park
15:00 BST Barron   7'
Cardle   50'
Report Attendance: 571
Referee: Mike Roncone
11 December 2021 15 Kelty Hearts 6–1 Albion Rovers New Central Park
15:00 BST Austin   5', 48'
Finlayson   37'
Biabi   52', 75'
Barjonas   79'
Report O'Donnell   27' Attendance: 554
Referee: Graham Grainger
18 December 2021 16 Stranraer 0–4 Kelty Hearts Stair Park
15:00 BST Report Burns   10 o.g.'
Forster   42'
Austin   45+2', 54'
Attendance: 272
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
26 December 2021 17 Annan Athletic 5–1 Kelty Hearts Galabank
15:00 BST Moxon   44'
Garrity   46'
Wallace   76', 87', 90+1 pen.'
Report Austin   36'
Forster   45'
Attendance: 372
Referee: Craig Napier
8 January 2022 18 Stirling Albion 0–3 Kelty Hearts Forthbank Stadium
15:00 BST Report Austin   4'
Cardle   58', 78'
Attendance: 483
Referee: Chris Graham
15 January 2022 19 Kelty Hearts 2–2 Edinburgh City New Central Park
15:00 BST Cardle   27', 55' Report Handling   75'
Bryden   90+3'
Attendance: 500
Referee: Stewart Luke
25 January 2022 20 Elgin City 2–0 Kelty Hearts Borough Briggs
19:45 BST Hester   36', 75' Report Attendance: 531
Referee: Dan McFarlane
29 January 2022 21 Kelty Hearts 3–2 Stranraer New Central Park
15:00 BST O'Ware   21'
Barjonas   22'
Austin   89'
Report Muir   53'
Hilton   56'
Attendance: 559
Referee: Barry Cook
5 February 2022 22 Kelty Hearts 4–0 Elgin City New Central Park
15:00 BST Higginbotham   8 pen.'
Agyeman   29', 56'
Tidser   52'
Report Attendance: 433
Referee: Grant Irvine
19 February 2022 23 Forfar Athletic 1–0 Kelty Hearts Links Park
19:45 BST Aitken   73' Report Attendance: 670
Referee: Alan Newlands
22 February 2022 24 Kelty Hearts 1–0 Cowdenbeath New Central Park
19:45 BST Higginbotham   82 pen.' Report Attendance: 1,092
Referee: Steven Kirkland
26 February 2022 25 Kelty Hearts 3–1 Annan Athletic New Central Park
15:00 BST Moxon   5 o.g.'
Barjonas   16'
Cardle   72'
Report McCartney   78' Attendance: 617
Referee: Ross Hardie
5 March 2022 26 Cowdenbeath 0–1 Kelty Hearts Central Park
15:00 BST Report Cardle   37' Attendance: 475
Referee: Peter Stuart
8 March 2022 27 Stenhousemuir 0–1 Kelty Hearts Ochilview Park
19:45 BST Report Austin   90+2' Attendance: 475
Referee: Peter Stuart
12 March 2022 28 Kelty Hearts 3–1 Albion Rovers New Central Park
15:00 BST Austin   1'
Barjonas   36', 84'
Report Wilson   59' Attendance: 635
Referee: Duncan Williams
16 March 2022 29 Albion Rovers 0–0 Kelty Hearts Cliftonhill
19:45 BST
19 March 2022 30 Elgin City 0–0 Kelty Hearts Borough Briggs
15:00 BST Omar   57' Attendance: 733
Referee: Calum Scott
26 March 2022 31 Kelty Hearts 1–0 Albion Rovers New Central Park
15:00 BST Kucheriavyi   84' Report Attendance: 812
Referee: Chris Graham
1 April 2022 32 Elgin City 1–1 Kelty Hearts Ainslie Park
19:45 BST Shanley   66 pen.' Report Barjonas   48' Attendance: 487
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
9 April 2022 33 Kelty Hearts 1–1 Stirling Albion New Central Park
15:00 BST Biabi   8' Report Moore   2' Attendance: 519
Referee: Barry Cook
16 April 2022 34 Stranraer 0–3 Kelty Hearts Stair Park
15:00 BST Report McNab   48'
Reilly   64'
Higginbotham   81'
Attendance: 301
Referee: Duncan Williams
23 April 2022 35 Kelty Hearts 1–1 Forfar Athletic New Central Park
15:00 BST Hill   31' Report Warnock   47'
McCluskey   50'
Attendance: 903
Referee: Calum Scott
30 April 2022 36 Stranraer 1–2 Kelty Hearts Galabank
15:00 BST Reilly   22 o.g.' Report Higginbotham   30'
Agyeman   45+1'
Attendance: 441
Referee: Barry Cook

Scottish League Cup

edit

Group stage

edit

Results

9 July 2021 Group stage Kelty Hearts 0–1 Dundee United Kelty
19:45 Report Shankland   77' Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 500
Referee: Steven McLean
17 July 2021 Group stage Kelty Hearts 3–0 East Fife Kelty
15:00 Austin   13', 25'
Agyeman   87'
Report Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 392
Referee: Barry Cook
20 July 2021 Group stage Elgin City 1–3 Kelty Hearts Elgin
19:45 Little   5' Report Russell   52'
Austin   76', 87'
Stadium: Borough Briggs
Attendance: 220
Referee: Chris Fordyce
24 July 2021 Group stage Arbroath 3–2 Kelty Hearts Arbroath
15:00 Donnelly   31'
Hamilton   52'
Low   58 pen.'
Report Higginbotham   20'
Cardle   27'
Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 626
Referee: Duncan Williams

Scottish Challenge Cup

edit
10 August 2021 First Round South St Mirren B 1–1
(3–0 p)
Kelty Hearts Paisley
19:45 Jack   89 pen.' Report Tidser   70' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Referee: Chris Graham

Scottish Cup

edit
23 October 2021 Second round Kelty Hearts 4–1 Buckie Thistle Kelty
15:00 O'Ware   34'
Cardle   36', 77'
Philp   86'
Report Urquhart   79' Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 608
Referee: Steven Kirkland
27 November 2021 Third round Kelty Hearts 0–0 Montrose Kelty
15:00 Report Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 805
Referee: Barry Cook
4 December 2021 Third round replay Montrose 1–1
(1–3 p)
Kelty Hearts Montrose
15:00 Johnston   42' Report Cardle   6' Stadium: Links Park
Attendance: 690
Referee: Barry Cook
22 January 2022 Fourth round Kelty Hearts 1–0 (a.e.t.) St Johnstone Kelty
15:00 Higginbotham   103' Report Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 2,183
Referee: Kevin Clancy
12 February 2022 Fifth round St Mirren 4–0 Kelty Hearts Paisley
15:00 Greive   15'
Jones   50'
Kiltie   58', 85'
Report Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 3,398
Referee: Andrew Dallas

Player statistics

edit

Appearances and goals

edit
As of 30 April 2022
No. Pos Player League Two League Cup Challenge Cup Scottish Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   Darren Jamieson 35+0 0 4+0 0 0+0 0 5+0 0 44 0
2 MF   Andrew Black 14+8 0 2+1 0 1+0 0 3+2 0 31 0
3 DF   Reis Peggie 1+2 0 4+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 8 0
4 DF   Dougie Hill 16+2 1 2+0 0 1+0 0 3+0 0 24 1
5 DF   Scott Hooper 11+2 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 1+1 0 16 0
6 DF   Jordon Forster 22+1 2 2+1 0 0+0 0 3+0 0 29 2
7 MF   Joe Cardle 29+7 12 3+1 1 1+0 0 5+0 3 46 16
8 MF   Thomas Reilly 8+5 1 3+1 0 0+0 0 0+2 0 19 1
9 FW   Nathan Austin 19+7 17 3+1 4 0+0 0 5+0 0 35 21
10 MF   Jamie Barjonas 31+0 9 3+1 0 0+1 0 3+2 0 41 9
11 MF   Kallum Higginbotham 35+0 7 3+1 1 0+1 0 5+0 1 45 9
12 MF   Michael Tidser 31+1 2 4+0 0 1+0 1 5+0 0 42 3
14 MF   Ross Philp 18+14 1 4+0 0 0+1 0 5+0 1 42 2
15 DF   Daniel Finlayson 19+4 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 4+0 0 27 1
16 MF   Robbie McNab 12+10 1 4+0 0 1+0 0 1+4 0 32 1
17 MF   Max Kucheriavyi 9+4 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 13 1
19 MF   Connor Barron 12+1 1 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 14 1
19 MF   Harrison Clark 1+2 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 3 0
20 GK   Josh Donaldson 1+0 0 0+0 0 1+0 0 0+0 0 2 0
21 FW   Botti Biabi 8+18 3 1+3 0 0+1 0 1+2 0 34 3
22 FW   Alfredo Agyeman 15+19 6 1+3 1 1+0 0 1+3 0 43 7
23 DF   Kieran Ngwenya 22+3 0 0+0 0 0+0 0 2+0 0 27 0
25 DF   Thomas O'Ware 27+1 1 0+0 0 0+0 0 3+0 1 31 2
26 MF   Ben Finnan 0+1 0 0+0 0 0+1 0 0+0 0 2 0

Team statistics

edit

Competition Overview

edit
Competition Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
League Two Matchday 1 1st 36 24 9 3 68 28 +40 066.67
Scottish League Cup Group stage Group stage 4 2 0 2 8 5 +3 050.00
Scottish Challenge Cup First round First round 1 0 0 1 1 1 +0 000.00
Scottish Cup Second round Fifth round 5 3 1 1 6 6 +0 060.00
Total 46 29 10 7 83 40 +43 063.04

Source: Competitions

League table

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Kelty Hearts (C, P) 36 24 9 3 68 28 +40 81 Promotion to League One
2 Forfar Athletic 36 16 12 8 57 36 +21 60 Qualification for the League One play-offs
3 Annan Athletic 36 18 5 13 64 51 +13 59
4 Edinburgh City (O, P) 36 14 10 12 43 49 −6 52
5 Stenhousemuir 36 13 10 13 47 46 +1 49
Source: [8]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[9]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted


League Cup table

edit
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DUN ARB KEL ELG EFI
1 Dundee United 4 4 0 0 0 9 1 +8 12 Qualification for the second round 1–0 6–1
2 Arbroath 4 3 0 0 1 6 3 +3 9 3–2 2–0
3 Kelty Hearts 4 2 0 0 2 8 5 +3 6 0–1 3–0
4 Elgin City 4 1 0 0 3 5 12 −7 3 0–1 1–3
5 East Fife 4 0 0 0 4 2 9 −7 0 0–1 2–3
Source: [10]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[11]

Transfers

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Finalising season 2020/21". www.slfl.co.uk. Lowland Football League. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Kelty Hearts confirmed as the 89th Scottish FA member club". Scottish Football Association. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Barry Ferguson: Kelty Hearts manager departs after League Two play-off win". BBC Sport. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  4. ^ McPheat, Nick (22 January 2022). "Kelty Hearts 1-0 St Johnstone: League 2 side stun Scottish Cup holders in extra-time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Kelty Hearts crowned League Two champions to record consecutive promotions". Football Scotland. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Kelty Hearts: Kevin Thomson's side crowned League 2 champions".
  7. ^ Online, BBC Sport (26 March 2022). "Scottish League 2: Kelty Hearts crowned champions at first attempt after win over Stenhousemuir". Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  8. ^ "cinch League Two Table". Scottish Prefessional Football League. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  9. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  12. ^ Temple, Alan (29 May 2021). "EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Dundee defender Jordon Forster becomes Kevin Thomson's first Kelty Hearts signing – as Fifers eye Joe Cardle deal". thecourier.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Ex-Rangers kid Jamie Barjonas joins Kevin Thomson at Kelty Hearts after Ibrox departure". glasgowtimes.co.uk. Glasgow Times. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  14. ^ @keltyheartsfc (3 June 2021). "We would like to welcome new recruit Andrew Black who joins from Edinburgh City to New Central Park" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Welcome to Kelty, Reis". twitter.com. Kelty Hearts FC. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Kelty add Agyeman". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Botti Biabi joins Kelty Hearts' League Two project". nottheoldfirm.com. Not the Old Firm. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  18. ^ Temple, Alan. "Kelty Hearts seal transfer coup as former Morton and Partick Thistle defender arrives". The Courier. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Welcome Connor and Ben". twitter.com. Kelty Hearts FC. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Dumbarton Football Club - PAT BOYLE IS BACK WITH DUMBARTON". www.dumbartonfootballclub.com. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Diamond Dylan on board". Airdrieonians FC. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Aberdeen midfielder Connor Barron joins Kelty Hearts on loan". pressandjournal.co.uk. Press and Journal. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Kieran Ngwenya joins Kelty Hearts on Loan". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  24. ^ Hart, Ross (1 October 2021). "Kelty Hearts: Daniel Finlayson signs on loan from St Mirren". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Kelty Hearts secure signing of 'lucky' Livingston midfielder following Arbroath stint". The Courier Evening Telegraph. 1 January 2022.
  26. ^ "Max Kucheriavyi: St Johnstone starlet in Kelty Hearts loan switch". thecourier.co.uk. The Courier. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  27. ^ Hart, Ross (1 March 2022). "Scott Hooper returns!". annanathleticfc.com. Annan Athletic FC. Retrieved 4 June 2022.