Hearts B were held to a 1-1 draw by Caledonian Braves at Ainslie Park on Friday night.
Liam Fox made two changes to the side that defeated Tranent on Tuesday night as Macaulay Tait and James Wilson replaced Harry Gordon and Bobby McLuckie.
It was an even start to proceedings, but it was the Wee Jambos who had the first chance of the evening. A deep corner from the left found Kenzi Nair at the back post and his intelligent lay-off for Callum Sandilands saw the Hearts number nine force a good save from Bernie White in the Braves goal.
It had been a low key beginning but the visitors went ahead on 25 minutes. Hearts didn’t deal with a ball into the box and the ball dropped to Jack McDowell who volleyed home from the edge of the box.
It was shaping up to be a frustrating evening for the Jam Tarts as Braves were limiting them to very few opportunities, despite Hearts enjoying the majority of the ball.
The equaliser arrived six minutes before the break. Mackenzie Ross cut in off the left before whipping in a dangerous cross which left Sandilands with the simplest of tasks to head home from close range at the back post.
The Wee Jambos had a spring in their step now and they almost completed a rapid quickfire comeback, three minutes later. A sweeping break saw the ball worked from left to right, Adam Forrester delivered a low cross and again Sandilands found space, but this time his effort was brilliantly stopped by White.
Half time: Hearts B 1-1 Caledonian Braves
Into the second half, the game continued in a similar pattern. Hearts dominating possession but struggling to create clear-cut openings.
A slick pass down the right channel sent James Wilson in behind just after the hour mark, but on the angle, his shot flew over the bar.
The Wee Jambos were almost undone on a swift counter attack from the visitors but Rocco Friel did well to clear a dangerous cross from almost underneath his own crossbar.
Up the other end, Hearts substitute Bobby McLuckie was trying to provide the creative spark that had been missing from the Wee Jambos’ play all evening, however his inviting cross flashed right across the face of goal with no takers waiting inside the six-yard box.
The Wee Jambos continued to huff and puff, but they couldn’t find the winner as it finished a point apiece.
Hearts: McFarlane, Tait © (Gordon, 57, (Stevenson, 90), Wilson, Sandilands, Kirk, Nair, Drysdale (Dall, 67), Forrester (Friel, 57), Duncan (McLuckie 57), Rathie, Ross
Subs: McConnell, Dall, McLuckie, Stevenson, Gordon, Friel, Smutek
