Dunfermline Athletic increased their lead at the top of League 1 with a hard-fought 2-1 over Kelty Hearts at East End Park.
Nikolay Todorov opened the scoring after some clever play from Craig Wighton before Darren Lyon equalised with a stunning left-foot strike.
Wighton won the game via a well-worked team goal.
Kelty had their chances to equalise, after the Pars missed a couple to extend their lead, but in the end it was a deserved three points for the home side.
Key moments
Kelty started the better side and came within inches of opening the scoring through Alfredo Agyeman.
The forward looped Cammy Logan’s cross towards goal, which beat Deniz Mehmet before crashing off the bar and bouncing back off the line.
The Pars took a while to settle and when they did opened the scoring through Todorov.
The Bulgarian finished low after Wighton showed great anticipation before cutting it back.
Dunfermline were having trouble dealing with Agyeman at times, who would attack the space left by wingback Josh Edwards.
It was from that side that Kelty equalised, though it took a spectacular effort from Lyons.
The second half was dominated by Dunfermline and they should have been further ahead through substitute Kyle Macdonald and later through another Wighton chance.
That set up a nervy finish that saw Higginbotham miss two glorious chances – the first, no one knows how he missed it; the second forced a good stop from Deniz Mehmet.
Star man Dunfermline: Craig Wighton
It’s difficult to look past someone who sets up one and then scores the winner but even besides this he was excellent and should have scored another.
He finished off a fabulous team goal, which ultimately won the game, and as always put in his defensive shift when needed.
He then executed a volleyed back heel at one point, finding the feet of Edwards. The full-back found Macdonald in the box who turned brilliantly and almost finished another great move.
Star man Kelty Hearts: Alfredo Agyeman
The 22-year-old almost opened the scoring and was a handful for Edwards and Rhys Breen, the latter of which picked up an early booking and was taken off at half-time.
He cracked the underside of the bar at 0-0 when his side were on top.
Agyeman’s contribution faded in the second half, as did that of Kelty as a whole, mainly down to the change in formation from James McPake at half-time.
Managers under the microscope
The Pars manager made one change from the defeat to Montrose, returning to a front two with Chris Mochrie behind.
Dunfermline have faced a fair few packed defences this season but had to contend with a confident and on-form Kelty looking to take the game to them.
One change for the Pars, Hamilton drops to the bench and Todorov comes in to form a front two with Wighton. pic.twitter.com/pHXfk3xUaC
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) October 29, 2022
This inevitably gave the Pars more space to attack than they have enjoyed in most matches at East End Park this season.
The home side struggled at times in the first half but a switch to a back four at half-time saw Agyeman nullified and Dunfermline dominated.
They should have been further ahead before Higginbotham’s late chances.
John Potter stuck with the same side that won at the Falkirk Stadium and took the game to the league leaders.
Kelty Hearts go with the same side that defeated Falkirk last week. pic.twitter.com/mgF8KT1HKQ
— Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001) October 29, 2022
On another day they take the lead, on another day they equalise and Potter can be pleased with his game plan and how it was executed, largely.
Man in the middle
Calum Scott dished out a fair few bookings, though there were one or two that pushed the boundaries of a yellow.
Cammy Logan was substituted shortly after his heavy challenge on Mochrie.
Todorov received a booking for an off-the-ball tussle with Jordan Forster, though they appeared to both be giving as good as they got.
Conversation