Elgin City 1 Kelty Hearts 1 (5-4 pens): City secure bonus point with penalty shoot-out win despite having 10-men
Elgin City 1 (Dangana, 70) Kelty Hearts 1 (Cunningham, 45+1)
(Elgin City win 5-4 on penalties)
Attendance: 473
ELGIN City overcame an early red card and came from a goal behind at half-time to secure a penalty shoot-out win over higher league opposition in Kelty Hearts in the League Cup.
Elgin were dealt an early blow when Jake Dolzanski was sent off after half an hour, and trailed at half-time after conceding with the half’s final touch to a fine solo effort from Scott Williamson.
But, despite being a goal and a man down to a team a league higher than them, City battled bravely in the second period and deservedly secured a penalty shoot-out through substitute Michael Dangana’s 70th-minute strike.
Ex-Celtic midfielder Scott Allan was the only man to miss in the shoot-out as City secured a bonus point with a 5-4 success on spot kicks.
City goalkeeper Tom McHale was the star of the opening stages - repelling Kelty efforts on several occasions.
He was called into action inside five minutes when he denied Williamson at the near post, and on 10 minutes he parried Lewis Moore’s shot against the post.
At the other end, Olly McDonald’s cross found its way through everyone and came back off the back post.
McHale’s most impressive save came when he got a fingertip on Luke McCarvel’s close-range header.
The game changed on 30 minutes when Jake Dolzanski was shown a second yellow card. The centre-half wiped out Tam O’Ware after an Elgin corner and was sent off.
It seemed as if the 10 men had made it to the break all level, but Williamson nabbed the ball from Russell Dingwall, raced through, left a defender on the floor and firing home at the near post with the very last touch of the first 45.
Kelty pushed to double their advantage at the start of the second half, but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a stubborn City rearguard.
And it was the home side that surprisingly nabbed the game’s second goal, despite a man disadvantage. Michael Dangana controlled Dajon Golding’s cross from the right before lashing into the net from six yards.
Visiting substitute Ross Cunningham thought he had scored the winner in the 87th minute, but McHale was on hand to parry over the top in impressive fashion - forcing the game to penalty kicks.
City struck perfection from the spot as Allan - up second for Kelty - was the only man to miss from 12 yards as he struck the crossbar.
City’s next League Cup game is a visit to Peterhead on Saturday, before the group stage is rounded off with a visit to Glasgow to take on Queen’s Park on Tuesday.
