Hearts B were defeated 1-0 at home by Broxburn Athletic on Friday night.
Scott McCrory-Irving’s second half strike secured the three points for the visitors in what was a frustrating evening for the Wee Jambos.
Angus Beith made three changes from the 2-1 win over Bo’ness United.
Robbie Flockhart came into the defence to make his first Lowland League appearance for Hearts B, while Euan Banks and Liam Kelly returned to the starting eleven. Alfie Wilson, Stanley Wilson and Liam Walker were all left out of the squad for the encounter.
It was a proud moment for youngster Allan Clark who was brought on in the second half to make his debut for the B Team.
The Brox thought they had got themselves ahead in the 5th minute as Matthew McDonald fired home from close range from the corner, but he was offside.
Hearts’ first shot on target of the night arrived through Connor Dow as he tested Watt with his effort just inside the area, but a deflection meant the goalkeeper gathered it easily.
Towards the end of the half, Donkor picked up possession just inside the box and hit a low drive on his right foot, with his effort going wide of the right hand post.
The winger then looked to test Watt in goal with a curled strike on his left foot that went narrowly wide of the target.
Just after, Hamilton was denied from close range by Lyon in goal for Hearts as it remained 0-0 going into half-time.
Half-time: Hearts 0-0 Broxburn Athletic
Broxburn continued to look dangerous as Kyle Bell was played through on goal and aimed for the top right corner with his strike, but Lyon made another good stop to thwart him.
With very few clear cut chances for either side in the second 45, Broxburn took the lead in the 81st minute. McCrory-Irving picked up possession just outside the area, drove into the box, cut on to his right foot and struck one into the far corner for 1-0.
The goal was enough to secure the victory for the visitors as Hearts B were defeated in the Lowland League.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“It is a disappointing one. I think the nature of the goal that we lose is really disappointing. It's just in fact too easy. Hopefully a really good learning moment for Jaedon, who's not played an awful lot at wing-back, and particularly, you know, in those types of situations where he has to defend his back post.
“So hopefully a really good learning from him, particularly with the Youth Cup coming up and him potentially playing that position. Hopefully he learns from that error because it's far too easy for them to go and score. So that's really disappointing.
“There was no lack of effort at all. The boys were trying. There was loads of really good work rate and really good moments in the game from us. But just a lack of quality at the top end of the pitch for us tonight, which was frustrating.”
Beith reflected on Robbie Flockhart’s performance in defence.
“I thought he did excellently at left-centre half, playing off his wrong side as well, but he looked really, really comfortable.
“We encouraged them to be aggressive before the game, but I thought he read situations really, really well. When to step in and be aggressive and when to kind of sit off and bump and pinch the ball and recognise when to drop off.
“So he had some really mature moments defensively today, which was really pleasing to see and a real positive for us. He's only 16 this week.”
The manager also discussed the decision to include youngsters Allan Clark and Flockhart in the squad.
“It was a great opportunity for them and I've known Allan and Robbie for a number of years and they're really, really good kids that are eager to learn and I think that they can only grow and improve from these opportunities.
“So hopefully they play well at 17s first and foremost, train properly and then hopefully then get more opportunities like they did tonight.”
Taylor Hogarth made his return against Broxburn after a lengthy period on the sidelines with injuries.
“I think he showed really good energy, and again, my advice to Taylor, as is the case with a lot of them, is just improving the quality in the final third, and he has certainly demonstrated those moments, we just need to see it more consistently.
“But it's brilliant to have him back in the team and I thought the energy he gave the team when he came on was really good.”
The manager discussed the progression of his young Hearts B side in recent times, as the focus switches to the away clash against Cumbernauld Colts next Saturday.
“I think the effort levels are brilliant. I think we've seen that consistently for the last few weeks, probably all the way through this year.
“We've gone up a level in that department and the way that we're defending the box has improved. We're getting closer to people. We're just generally more difficult to beat, which has been really pleasing.
“The aspect that I'm just going to keep pushing is more quality in possession, particularly in the final third. I think that's the area that we need to improve and we just need to keep going with that.”
Hearts: Lyon, Flockhart, Smith (Hogarth, 63’), Osborne ©, Dow, Muirhead, Banks (Robb, 73’), Sanders (Clark, 83’), Kelly, Donkor, Mathie
Subs: MacDonald, Hogarth, Robb, Kellock, Clark
Broxburn Athletic: Watt, McGale, Lennon, McDonald, Shrive, Hamilton, Lavery, Thomson, McCrory-Irving, Gormley ©, Bell
Subs: TRIALIST, Douglas, Locke, Docherty, Watkins
