Hearts B were defeated 4-2 by Edinburgh City in the KDM Evolution Trophy at Meadowbank Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts scored four goals in the space of 25 minutes in the first half, with a brace from Robert Mahon, a header from James Stokes and a strike from Innes Lawson.
Bobby McLuckie pulled one back just before half-time to make it 4-1 before Callen Robb converted his 90th minute penalty to make it 4-2.
Angus Beith made three changes from Tuesday night’s away trip to Berwick Rangers. Taylor Hogarth, Aiden Haddow and Lucas Smith came into the team against the Citizens.
Hearts started the match positively and looked to hit Edinburgh City on the counter.
Bobby McLuckie sent in a low cross to striker Tommy North who had a pop on his right foot, but it was a comfortable take for Mark Weir in goal for Edinburgh City.
In the 10th minute, McLuckie got forward again as he switched the ball to Mack Ross in the box. He got a strike away from a tight angle but Weir got down well to claim it.
Despite a bright start from the Jambos, the hosts took the lead in the 12th minute.
Robert Mahoney drove into the Hearts box and slotted past Lyndon Tas into the bottom right corner for 1-0.
Edinburgh City got their second of the afternoon not long after. In the 21st minute, Mahoney was played in behind the Hearts defence and hit a powerful strike into the top left corner for 2-0.
In the 33rd minute, Hearts failed to clear their lines in defence which allowed Inness Lawson to pounce and fire home into the bottom left corner for 3-0.
On 37 minutes, the corner from the left was whipped to the back post and James Stokes headed home for 4-0.
The Wee Jambos pulled a goal back on 41 minutes. McLuckie nicked the ball in midfield and drove all the way into the box, took the ball around Weir in goal and calmly slotted home from a tight angle for 4-1.
Half-time: Edinburgh City 4-1 Hearts
Hearts were on the attack straight away to start the second 45.
North was played in behind the City defence but forced wider than he would have liked. He whipped a cross to the back post and McLuckie arrived to hit it first time, but his effort rattled off the post.
The striker had another good chance in the 55th minute. He was played into the box in plenty of space and struck one on his right foot, but his effort went wide of the target.
The Wee Jambos had a much better second half and put up a fight, but in truth Edinburgh City’s levels dropped significantly and they didn’t match the intensity they showed in the first 45.
It was a proud moment for Boyd Fraser who came on in the 82nd minute at to make his Hearts B debut at just 15 years old.
The Jam Tarts managed to pull a goal back late on. In the 90th minute, substitute Callen Robb drove into the box and was chopped down, as referee Ross Birrell pointed to the spot.
Robb stepped up and dispatched his penalty into the bottom corner for 4-2.
Despite a spirited display in the second half, ultimately Hearts paid the price for a poor first half as Edinburgh City secured three points in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Mitchell, Duncan, Lynch ©, Stokes, Mahoney, Jarvis, Lawson, Macarthur, Barrett, Myles
Subs: Marinovic, Service, Brodie, Quinn
Hearts: Tas, Crookston, James, Smutek ©, Smith, Ross (Plank, 46’), Haddow, Muirhead, Hogarth, North, McLuckie
Subs: MacDonald, Plank, Glasgow, Radcliffe, Burn, Sanders, Kelly, Robb, Fraser
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website after full-time, Angus Beith said:
“I felt like they actually started the game pretty well. We had two really good chances at the start of game. It’s been the story of our season so far. We don't take them and then we had to weather a storm.
“After that, there was like a 25 minute period where we made really poor decisions. We kept passing the ball in the middle of the pitch and they nick it off us and stop winning first and second balls and that really hurt us and cost us. The decision making and not competing enough and not being compact and just seeing out that period, which led to the four goals and an an uphill climb for us.
“Obviously it was a much better performance second-half. But I would suggest that they probably dropped their levels a little bit, we had subs that impacted the game pretty well. Boyd Fraser is just 15, and he’s a real positive for us. I thought when he came on, he showed good composure. Callen Robb was decent off the bench as well.”
“We need to manage those periods in the game better if they want to learn and progress, and if we want to get positive results.”
