Hearts B were defeated 3-0 by Cumbernauld Colts on Friday night at Broadwood Stadium.
Goals from Daniel Hatfield, Callum Horne and Thomas Horn secured all three points for the hosts in what was a disappointing night for the Wee Jambos.
Angus Beith made four changes from the 1-0 defeat against Broxburn Athletic last Friday.
Alfie Wilson, Taylor Hogarth and Liam Walker returned to the starting eleven.
Despite the defeat, it was a proud night for 16-year-old midfielder Keir McMeekin who made his first appearance and start for Hearts B in the Lowland League, having featured in the KDM Evolution Trophy against Kelty Hearts and St Johnstone earlier in the season.
After a cagey opening to the match, Cumbernauld took the lead on 13 minutes. Hearts failed to clear their lines from the cross on the right from Carrick McEvoy, it took a ricochet and Daniel Hatfield arrived at the back post to head past Jack Lyon for 1-0.
The hosts had a great opportunity to go 2-0 up in the 26 minute. The ball fell kindly to Hatfield in the box, he took a touch before hitting a low strike which forced a save from Lyon with his right boot.
Hearts searched for the leveller. The ball came to Keir McMeekin at the edge of the box who showed great feet to weave his way into the area. He got it on to his left foot and looked to find the bottom left corner with his strike, but his effort went wide.
Half-time: Cumbernauld Colts 1-0 Hearts
The Colts made it 2–0 in the 56th minute. The corner was floated in from the right, Hearts failed to clear their lines properly and Horne hit one on the half-volley into the bottom left corner.
Chances were few and far between for Hearts in the second 45.
In the 79th minute, substitute Charlie Sanders picked up possession at the edge of the area, shifted it on to his left foot and hit a low strike, forcing Broun to make a good stop to deny him.
The Jam Tarts huffed and puffed, but couldn’t find an answer to unlock The Colts defence as they fell to defeat in the Lowland League.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“Yeah, that was a really disappointing performance. It's unrecognisable. When you look at all the great Hearts teams, the Hearts youth teams as well, it was unrecognisable, our performance out there when you compare it to them.
“It was unrecognisable as well to how we've been probably the last four or five weeks. We've competed really well first and foremost and we've looked alive and looked a threat as well going forward, but there was just, unfortunately tonight, none of that there.”
The manager reflected on the defensive performance from his side at Broadwood.
“I think again, we, because we weren't very good in duels and because we didn't make contact, we didn't have good detail in the last step, we went out impressed and just like fighting to compete for the ball and alive and ready to compete for seconds, because of that we gave up a lot of second balls.
“They had control and were then able to put balls in our box, sustain attacks and ultimately continue to put us under pressure. We've actually, I think, we've defended the crosses a lot better, but the first goal is really disappointing with how we concede that, and then the corner is obviously disappointing as well, and pretty much kills the game off, unfortunately.”
The B Team will now switch their focus to their home league clash against Gretna next Friday evening at the Vanloq Community Stadium- Ainslie Park.
“I think it's doing the basics miles better, in and out possession. That's what we've said in the changing room, that's what we referenced at half-time as well.
“It's the bare minimum when you go out on to a football pitch that you compete. You win your 1-v-1 battles, both in and out of possession, and we didn't do the basics well enough, and that needs to improve just to give ourselves a foundation in the game.
“You can talk about shapes and breaking lines and all these ways that we could potentially hurt the opposition, but it means nothing when you don't do the basics well enough.”
Cumbernauld Colts: Broun, Fernie, Dickson, Moy, Horne,Jack, Horn, Stevenson, McLaughlin, Mcevoy, Hatfield
Subs: Cowie, Devlin, Gillies, Hunter, McGuican, McCormick, McCaffrey
Hearts: Lyon, Flockhart, Osborne ©, Dow (Robb, 60’), Muirhead, Wilson, Hogarth, Walker (Sanders, 60’), Donkor (Kelly, 60’), Mathie (Dickov, 73’), McMeekin (Banks, 46’)
Subs: MacDonald, Banks, Sanders, Kelly, Dickov, Clark
