A forgettable evening saw Hearts B defeated 2-0 by Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park.
Angus Beith made six changes from the 1-1 draw with Caledonian Braves as Lyndon Tas, Henry James, Dom Plank, Euan Glasgow, Alfie Wilson and Callen Robb all came into the side for the trip south.
As is often the case when the Wee Jambos head to Berwick, it was a tight affair, with neither goalkeeper being called into action in the first 38 minutes.
The first opening of the night fell the way of the home side and after winning a free kick right on the edge of the 18-yard box, Ben McCrystal wasted the opportunity, curling his effort well over Tas’ goal.
Berwick stopper Liam Campbell presented Hearts with their first opportunity of the match on 4 minutes, when his poor kick out found Tommy North, but the strikers long-range effort dropped just over the bar.
Both sides continued to cancel each other out and although the Wee Jambos enjoyed their fair share of possession, they were unable to carve out many clear openings.
The best chance of the first 45 fell the way of Berwick striker Greg Binnie. The number ten was played in behind the Hearts backline, he was able to lob the ball over the onrushing Tas, but his effort rolled just wide of the post.
Up the other end, a mistake in the Berwick backline allowed Robb in for the final chance of the first half, but under pressure, his effort lacked power and was routine for Campbell.
Half-time: Berwick Rangers 0-0 Hearts
In truth, it would’ve been difficult for the second half to produce less goalmouth action than the first and the home side nearly took the lead inside the opening minute of the second period.
A smart pull back from the right found Jonathan Devers, but his shot from inside the area was saved by the feet of Tas.
Tommy North thought he’d opened the scoring for the Wee Jambos on 51 minutes, after heading home Mackenzie Ross’ cross, but the ball was adjudged to have gone behind for a goal kick, prior to the cross being delivered and it remained goalless.
The home side opened the scoring just after the hour mark as Devers made no mistake this time round, slotting home a high cross from the right.
The Wee Jambos were a little rattled following the opening goal and Tas kept his team in the game with a good stop at his near post to deny McCrystal, following some positive play down the right.
In search of the equaliser, Connor Dow, Aiden Haddow and Taylor Hogarth were all introduced, and the latter spurned a big opportunity to restore parity. It was initially good hold up play from North to bring Ross into play on the right wing, he picked out Hogarth at the back post, but the substitute fired wide on the stretch.
Hearts were punished for that missed opportunity as the home side doubled their lead. The home side were allowed to move inwards from the right wing and Liam Buchanan blasted the ball into the roof of the net on 76 minutes.
That put the game beyond doubt, but Tas continued to perform well between the sticks, denying a Berwick a third, before smothering the rebound.
A forgettable night was capped off nine minutes from the end as Haddow was shown a second yellow card as the three points stayed at Shielfield.
Berwick Rangers: Campbell, Pitt, Sneddon, Pyper ©, MacKenzie, Somers, Binnie, Devers, Ellison, McCrystal, Wright
Subs: Antell, Buchanan, Hendry, McConnell, Macnamara, Mackay
Hearts B: Tas, Crookston (Haddow, 60), James, Smutek, Ross, Plank (Dow, 60), Glasgow, Muirhead, A. Wilson (Hogarth, 68), Robb, North
Subs: MacDonald, Smith, Dow, Haddow, Hogarth, Kelly, Dickov
