Hearts B were defeated 1-0 by Celtic B at the Vanloq Community Stadium- Ainslie Park on Friday night.
Emmanuel Obidiwe’s 72nd minute strike was enough to secure the victory for the visitors in what was a frustrating evening for the Wee Jambos.
Despite the defeat, it was a proud moment for 16-year-old Jaedon Donkor who came on in the second half to make his debut for Hearts B after scoring twice against Ross County in the U18s Youth Cup on Tuesday.
It was a cagey first half with very few clear cut chances for either side.
Mack Ross and Henry James linked up well in the 10th minute as Ross drove down the left wing and played James into the box who struck one on his left foot, but his effort sailed over the bar.
On 26 minutes, Liam Walker was brought down right at the edge of the area and was awarded the free kick. The attacker stepped up and floated one over the wall, but he couldn’t get it down as it went over the bar.
Celtic had a decent opportunity to go ahead in the 39th minute. The corner was whipped in from the left and Hale arrived at the back post with the header which went wide.
Half-time: Hearts 0-0 Celtic
Obidiwe looked threatening down the left wing for Celtic. He hit a low strike in the box in the 51st minute which forced a good low stop from Jack Lyon in goal for Hearts.
In the 64th minute, Henry James whipped in a fantastic cross from the left into the box trying to find substitute Callen Robb at the back post, but the attacker couldn’t reach it as it went behind for a goal kick.
The visitors went ahead in the 72nd minute. The ball was crossed in from the right and caused a scramble in the box as Hearts tried to get it cleared. Obidiwe reacted the quickest to fire home from close range for 1-0.
Hearts looked to hit back straight away. Robb sprinted down the right wing and whipped a good ball into the box as Euan Banks arrived. His glanced header went wide of the target.
The Jam Tarts had a brilliant opportunity to equalise in the 90th minute. Debutant Jaedon Donkor weaved his way into the box and played a great cut back to Callen Robb. The striker struck one first time but his effort went over the bar from six yards.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“I’m very disappointed. I thought we didn't start the game well at all. Everything that I praised the boys for last week wasn't there tonight at all. The focus levels that we've been talking about a lot, that competitiveness and sustaining it for the whole game, and showing more quality on the ball, which we did against in Linlithgow, it just wasn't there tonight at all, so that’s really frustrating.
“We trained and prepared in very similar ways, so there's not too much difference in terms of how we go about that. I think obviously with younger players you get more of a fluctuation in terms of l performance levels, but for many of them now, they've been through this process over a long period of time.
“They've been in the B Team games and playing in the Lowland League for a long time. So you would expect that, as they go through that process, there becomes more of a consistency. They need to do that if they want to make the next step. So that's the challenge for them.”
The head coach discussed Jaedon Donkor, after the youngster made his debut for Hearts B off the bench.
“I was up in Ross County actually on Tuesday for the Youth Cup game and he was phenomenal when he came on in that game. It's slightly different because there's bigger spaces and Ross County were pushing forward. I think that the really pleasing thing for me is he actually had four in a row where he didn't get past the left back and then he wins the next three or he gets past them in the next three.
“It was really pleasing that he stuck to his guns, he didn't get frustrated, he kept demanding the ball and then he created a brilliant chance for us right at the end which Cal should probably do better with. I’m so happy that he's finally on the pitch and he's registered because that's been a really frustrating process for him. So I'm delighted he's managed to get two games this week.
“I think the message there to the boys was that I was really disappointed with the performance levels tonight. If you want to move up the levels, then the consistency and your intensity, your focus and quality on the ball needs to be much better, particularly if you want to be a Hearts player. So that will be the challenge for them for the next game.”
Hearts: Lyon, Crookston, James, Smutek ©, Smith, Osborne, Ross (Donkor, 60’) , Muirhead (Banks, 60’), Wilson, Walker (Robb, 46’), North (Haddow, 60’)
Subs: MacDonald, Tas, Haddow, Radcliffe, Banks, Robb, Donkor
Celtic: Shaw GK, Crawford, Kyle, Hale, Borland ©, Daly, Keenan, Hartington, Skorb, Rachwal, Obidiwe
Subs: Patterson, English, Sedwell, Daly, Mulgrew, Clearie
