Derby delight as Dundonald defeat champions elect Kelty

A waterlogged pitch postponed the original fixture, but it proved to be worth the wait for the home side.

Both sides had early chances, but the keepers were up to the test.

When Ritchie was brought down on the edge of the box on 12 minutes, Husband had the opportunity to open the scoring for Kelty but his free kick was superbly saved by Lennox in the Bluebell goal.

After a shaky opening 15 minute Dundonald began to take charge, forcing a string of corners, but couldn’t make any of them count.

In truth, it was turning into a typical derby match with plenty of effort and endeavour but no room for the faint hearted and quality in short supply.

It looked to be heading for a goal less first half until a speculative cross from Ritchie was not dealt with by Forbes and his attempted clearance made it only as far as Kelty’s Jordan Sheerin who managed to deflect the ball past Lennox in the home goal.

It was a soft goal to lose from a Bluebell perspective, but the game took a dramatic twist in 73 minutes when Kelty defender Murray Carstairs clearly used his hand to push the ball away from Lawrie and back to his goalkeeper.

A penalty was given and Carstairs dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

The Superleague’s top scorer, Lewis McKenzie, took the penalty and sent goalkeeper Kyle Marley the wrong way to level the scoring.

With the extra man and a large home crowd behind them Bluebell went in search of a winner, and substitute Scott Lawrie, an ex Kelty player, provided it three minutes from time.

After being fouled 35 yards out, Lawrie dusted himself down and smashed an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes on and off the park.

The game was not finished yet and Kelty had a decent shout for a penalty in injury time when Lawrie seemed to impede Conrad Courts in the box.

To the delight of all connected to the Bluebell the referee waved the Kelty claims away and the full time whistle was blown.

An excellent performance from Dundonald and testament as to how far the club has come in a relatively short period of time.

This Saturday, Bluebell host Hill of Beath Hawthorn.

Dundonald: Lennox, Laird, Drummond, Forbes, McKenzie, Patrick, Meikle, Buchan, Martin, Sibanda and Gray. Subs: Ward, Lawrie, Lennie and Walker.