A stunning second half volley from Scott Honeyman saw Dumbarton defeat Hearts B 1-0 in the KDM Evolution Trophy on Tuesday night.
With three games in six days, Angus Beith freshened up his side for the trip to the Rock with Jack Lyon, Henry James, Owen Muirhead, Stanley Wilson, Tommy North and Bobby McLuckie all coming into the side following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Broxburn.
It was a lively beginning to the match, with both sides spurning decent chances in the opening ten minutes.
The Jambos were first to get a sight of goal when Euan Glasgow got to the byline down the right wing, he cut the ball back for Gus Stevenson, but the winger skied his effort from inside the area.
The home side responded well and wasted a golden opportunity of their own when Cameron Clark crossed for Chris Johnston, but the forward lacked composure at the crucial time and blasted the ball high over Lyon’s goal.
The men in maroon had started the brighter of the two teams and were knocking the ball about well with Matty Gillies and young Wilson enjoying the midfield battle. The former was next to go close after driving forward from halfway, he flashed an effort just wide of Ollie Ecrepont’s goal.
The game hit a bit of a lull midway through the first period with little in the way of goalmouth action, but the Wee Jambos finished the first 45 on top with a flurry of opportunities in the closing stages.
After McLuckie had a good shout for a penalty turned down, he called Ecrepont into action, before firing a second opening over the bar, either side of a decent Henry James volley, which was beaten away by the Sons’ stopper.
Half-time: Dumbarton 0-0 Hearts B
Both sides made triple changes at the interval, but it was the home side who started the second period better, without really testing Lyon. The closest they came was a penalty box scramble from a corner, but the Wee Jambos eventually cleared their lines.
There wasn’t a lot in the game as we past the hour mark but the home side got their noses in front with a moment of quality from Scott Honeyman. The men in maroon headed away a long-throw from the left, but it fell to Honeyman who volleyed home from the edge of the area into the bottom corner on 69 minutes.
Hearts huffed and puffed after that but in a game low on quality and chances, Honeyman’s strike proved decisive as the home side took all three points.
Dumbarton: Ecrepont, Lynas, Clark, Blair, Roy, Wallace ©, Marshall, Rhappozzoh, Honeyman, Johnston, Neill
Subs: Kelly, Durnan, Webster, Livingstone, McIntosh, Docherty, Gilfedder, Connor, Kirkpatrick
Hearts B: Lyon, James, Smutek ©, Osborne, Gillies, Glasgow, Muirhead (Hogarth, 46), Stevenson, S. Wilson (Robb, 72), North (Dow, 46), McLuckie (Plank, 46)
Subs: MacDonald, Crookston, Smith, Dow, Plank, Hogarth, Robb
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, coach David McNeill said:
“It’s frustrating, after a positive first half. We created a lot of chances, but the final ball, or the final decision from the ball carrier, potentially the runner, has let us down in the first half. We probably could have and should have went in 1-0 or 2-0 up. However, that's been mentioned in the dressing room.
“These games are great for the learning opportunities. We come out in the second half and we don't get as many chances, as many clear-cut chances. That's the learning development of the young players.
“The boys will take a lot from these games though. You can see it as well, at half-time, Dumbarton bring on three other players, which are experienced players. It's a great challenge, because we've got guys that have played the first half already and then you’re looking at your opposition player, who's played a lot of league games, so there’s a great challenge there.
“There are small details that they'll take from these players, that they might not get in other games that they play. So, the KDM for us right now has been a real challenge for the players. But we can see a lot of development from tonight's game compared to East Fife's game in terms of how we defended the box tonight for the most part, which is really rewarding.”
