Hearts B were defeated 2-0 by Gala Fairydean Rovers on Tuesday night at Ainslie Park.
The Wee Jambos were back in Lowland League action, following an encouraging performance in defeat against East Fife last Tuesday in the KDM Evolution Trophy.
Angus Beith named a young side, with many B Team regulars featuring against Rangers for the U19s on Monday.
It was a quiet opening with very little goalmouth action in the early exchanges, but it was the visitors that opened the scoring with the first real opportunity of the match on 15 minutes.
Owen Calder did well to get to the byline down the left and the full back hung up a cross for the onrushing Jamie McMurdo, who’s header had enough power to beat Lyndon Tas, who at full stretch just couldn’t get a strong enough hand on the ball to prevent it from trickling over the line.
The Wee Jambos were seeing plenty of the ball and were intent on getting the ball out wide and in behind their opponents, with centre backs Kai Smutek and Lucas Smith keen to attempt diagonal switches of play.
Hearts looked to have two good penalty kick shouts waved away by referee Ross Donaldson, which saw Angus Beith shown a straight red card for his protestations.
The men in maroon had certainly gained the upper hand as the clock ticked past the half hour mark. A short corner found Henry James on the edge of the area, and he unleashed a ferocious effort from 25-yards, which cannoned back off the crossbar on 32 minutes.
The final chance of an even first 45 fell to Dom Plank. The winger found space on the left-hand side of the box, but he slipped at the vital moment, and his effort didn’t trouble Reece Murray in the Gala goal.
Half-time: Hearts B 0-1 Gala Fairydean Rovers
Hearts started the second 45 on the front foot and the lively Plank got to the byline down the left wing, before forcing a smart stop on the angle from Murray.
The Wee Jambos huffed and puffed, but they were struggling to create any openings on a night that had been lacking in quality all round.
One big positive was the return of Bobby McLuckie from injury, the winger entered the field for the final 15 minutes and certainly added something, but it was the visitors who added a second in stoppage time as substitute Che Reilly raced onto a through ball and poked the ball past Tas to seal the points for Gala.
Hearts: Tas, Crookston ©, James, Smutek, Smith, Ross (Burn, 65), Dow, Plank, Banks, A.Wilson (Dickov, 82), Robb (McLuckie, 75)
Subs: MacDonald, Burn, Sanders, Kelly, Dickov, Mulholland, McLuckie
Gala Fairydean Rovers: Murray, Moyles, Calder, Fagan, Kasa, Jacobs, Semple, Galbraith ©, McMurdo, Lyons, Dolan
Subs: Dowie, Hall, Reilly, Patterson, Adam, Campbell, Beagley
