Kelty Hearts beat Brechin City 2-1 in play-off final first leg

Cammy Russell scored the second goal for Kelty Hearts

Kelty Hearts take a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the League 2 play-off final with Brechin City.

The Lowland League champions went ahead through a Kallum Higginbotham strike, with Jonathan Page levelling from a corner.

Cammy Russell then broke clear to slot beyond goalkeeper David Hutton on the stroke of half-time.

Hutton saved well from Higginbotham, while home keeper Darren Jamieson twice denied Kieran Inglis.

In front of 250 home fans at New Central Park, Barry Ferguson's side took the lead in the 16th minute when Higginbotham netted after Nathan Austin's shot was parried by Hutton.

Five minutes later, it was all square as Page applied the finish when Bobby Barr's corner was knocked towards goal by Chris McKee.

After good work by Dylan Easton and Higginbotham, substitute Russell, on for Jamie Stevenson, restored the lead for the Fifers with a composed finish.

The return leg is at Glebe Park on Sunday, with Brechin facing a fight to continue their 68-year stretch in the senior leagues.

Kelty Hearts manager Barry Ferguson: "We're disappointed with the way we performed, which is crazy when we've just won a game. We had good stages in the game when we dominated but we didn't have that clinical edge.

"They sat in and tried to frustrate us, so hopefully they need to come out a bit more in the second leg. We'll go there and we'll go to win the game."

Brechin City manager Michael Paton: "I can't fault anyone's effort. They all gave me everything they had and I think we deserved a wee bit more than 2-1, maybe a draw would have been a fairer reflection. We limited them in the second half and caught them a few times on the counter.

"I know our fans are bursting to make a connection with the players and I know what they can bring."