Hearts B bowed out of the Lowland League with a 3-0 away defeat against Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Saturday.
Two goals for Dylan Mauchin and a strike from Darren Downie gave the hosts all three points on the final day of the season.
The match also marked Hearts hero and 2012 Scottish Cup winner Jamie MacDonald’s final game of his playing career, having completed his time as a player and coach for the B Team since rejoining the Jambos in 2024.
Angus Beith made three changes from last Friday night’s 3-0 home victory over Albion Rovers.
The Jam Tarts looked to test the Cowdenbeath backline early on in the sunshine at Central Park. Connor Dow picked the ball up at the edge of the area and looked to curl it into the far corner, but his effort went narrowly wide of the target.
The hosts opened the scoring with 20 minutes gone. Dylan Mauchin saw his effort blocked in the box by Euan Glasgow, Hearts weren’t able to clear their lines, and Mauchin followed up to score into the bottom left corner for 1-0.
Half-time: Cowdenbeath 1-0 Hearts
Substitute Jaedon Donkor looked to make an impact on the right wing for the Wee Jambos. Donkor drove to the edge of the box, cut on to his left foot and curled one, but his effort went wide of the left hand post.
Cowdenbeath doubled their advantage in the 65th minute. The ball was played long to Mauchin in the box who brought it down and struck one into the bottom right corner for 2-0.
Paul McLean’s side made it three with 20 left to play. The corner was swung in from the left, Hearts were unable to clear it as Darren Downie fired home from close range.
Ultimately, it was a disappointing afternoon for the Wee Jambos as their time in the Lowland League came to an end.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“Yeah, a shame to end it that way. I think that we didn't take our chances in the first half. I think we have a few really good opportunities, not clear cut ones but some really good openings and a final pass or final shot, just let us down.
“It’s a similar story for us this season, the cheapness of the goals we conceded and that was the case again today.
“This is why we’re in the Lowland League. They manage the game much better. They use their body much, much better. These players have been in the leagues for a number of years. They make better decisions, they understand when they can and can't press. They understand how to use the conditions as well.
“There's a few boys that aren't there next season, there's a few boys that will hopefully go on loan and keep getting exposed to men's football, and that's my message to them because I don't think they get exposed to that in the academy games as much as the games that we've had in the Lowland League this year, so important they keep getting exposed to that and they keep learning from these these situations quickly.
Beith looked ahead to an exciting end to the season for the U19s, as they prepare to face St Mirren in the CAS League Cup Final on Tuesday at K-Park, before a trip to Hampden to take on Queen’s Park in the Scottish Youth Cup Final on April 28.
“I think it's like that's a really good place to to finish. I think the reason why we are performing at a high level, particularly in the cups this year, but we've had some good, some real strong performances in the league as well as I think because of the exposure that these guys are getting in the Lowland League.
“I think exposure to these games, I think it's got a closer feel to the first team games across the levels, and even the Hearts games. I know there's a big jump, but there's still a similar feel to them.
“I think that's the reason why it’s helped us perform well in the cups and get them ready to perform at a higher level and the other under 19s teams that they're coming up against.
“They've not had a League Cup before as well, so we've got a chance to be the first double winners as well. So lots to play for, really exciting.”
Cowdenbeath: Gear, Adamson, Newman ©, Petrie, Ness, Wedderburn, Ferrie, Allan, Allan, Mwangi, Mauchin, Walker
Subs: 17 Steven Parker, 12 Scott Cameron, 14 Nathan Lawson, 15 Liam Watt, 16 Stuart McDowell, 18 Darren Downie, 19 Max Williamson
Hearts: Lyon ©, Flockhart, Dow (Dickov, 80’), Glasgow, Radcliffe, Muirhead (Hogarth, 80’), Fraser, A. Wilson, S. Wilson (Banks, 58’), Robb (Mathie, 58’), North (Donkor, 58’)
Subs: MacDonald, Banks, Hogarth, Kelly, Dickov, Donkor, Mathie
