Hearts reserves stretched their unbeaten run to five matches with a fine 4-1 victory over Livingston reserves at Forthbank yesterday afternoon. Hungarian midfielder Gabor Vincze gave the Lions a first-half lead, but goals before half-time from Juho Makela and Samuel Camazzola and after the interval from Hjalmar and Denis McLaughlin saw the three points head back to Edinburgh.

Coach John McGlynn found a place for Brazilian Camazzola in his line-up, the Samba star continuing his rehabilitation from a broken foot to push for a place in Graham Rix's first-team plans. That was also the aim for Juho Makela, Lee Wallace and Saulius Mikoliunas, the only other players on view from the fringes of the Tynecastle first team. Weel-kent faces for Livingston included Vincze alongside Robert Snodgrass and Wes Houlihan.

Despite the talent on show for the visitors, it was the home side who started the brighter and even before Vincze headed them into a 15th-minute lead, Jamie MacDonald had been forced into a fine save from an ambitious Houlihan lob. Vincze then wasted an opportunity to double his side's advantage when he lashed wide from a good position and he was made to pay for the miss as Hearts turned the game on its head before half-time.

Hjalmar had just failed to control a shot after he was released by Makela's pass, but when the roles were reversed Hearts drew level, Finn Makela latching onto a pass form the young Icelander to guide a shot away from the home side's goalkeeper. More adventurous play from the men in maroon resulted in a penalty shortly before half-time when Mikoliunas was fouled inside the area, Camazzola making a great job of converting the ball from the spot.

MacDonald kept his side in front at the start of the second period with a fine stop from Snodgrass's header, but any thoughts the home side might have had of getting back into the game were thwarted midway through the half when substitute Matthew Doherty's corner was headed home by Hjalmar.

MacDonald then saved twice from Snodgrass as the game entered its final stages, but it was the visitors who completed the scoring through Denis McLaughlin's powerful header in the last minute.

John McGlynn was cery content when he spoke to Hearts News after the match: "I was very happy with the performance. We passed the ball very well. We did go behind to a header from a corner kick, but we bounced back which was the most important thing.

"Yesterday we purposefully played a young team. The manager and Jim Duffy wanted to see the young playing in a reserve game. The young players have got to make a bigger step up and sometimes the more experinced players are not greatly motivated to play in those games when there is nobody there at the ground.

"Yeah, they have to play and get a bit of fitness and sometimes that is all they get out of it. Yesterday we put the young players in as you know you that you will get the effort and commitment that you need, particularly when you consider that our opponents Livingston fielding a young side as well.

"We've only lost the one game since the new year, at Kilmarnock. We have had a few draws, from a league point of view and so you don't climb the table. Our performaces have probably been better than the results, but we are happy with things."

Sammy Camazzola played his second full game back from injury while Craig Sives made his first appearance since pre-season. He's been out for six months with a back injury.

Meanwhile, Rudi Skacel will be in for treatment on his injured ankled, as he battles to be fit for Saturday's trip to Inverness. The assistant coach said: "He will be in for treatment today, and every day and we will give him every opportunity to be ready for Saturday.

Saul Mikoliunas came off at half-time yesterday suffering from a couple of "bumps" while Juho Makela's route to fitness was also inhibited by a possible tweaked hamstring.

Hearts: MacDonald; Thomson, Tierney, Sives (Armstrong), Wallace; Mikoliunas (Doherty), Camazzola, Neill, Driver; Makela (McLaughlin), Thorarinsson Subs not used: M'Bohli, Jonsson