Hearts B settled for a point at home against the Caledonian Braves at the Vanloq Community Stadium- Ainslie Park on Friday night.
Matty Gillies’ low driven effort put the Wee Jambos ahead in the 16th minute, before Connor McLaren’s spectacular goal from the halfway line made it 1-1 just before the break.
Angus Beith made three changes from the 1-0 defeat away to Dumbarton on Tuesday evening.
Gregor Crookston came in to replace Henry James at full-back, Mackenzie Ross started ahead of Bobby McLuckie, and Josh Radcliffe was swapped for Euan Glasgow.
The Braves started on the front foot from the off as Zac Butterworth swung in the cross from the right, but the Hearts defence got it cleared.
Up the other end in the 6th minute, Mackenzie Ross did well down the right wing and fired in a low cross looking for striker Tommy North. His effort was blocked and cleared to safety.
The visitors looked dangerous on the counter. Ross McNeil’s effort in the box was straight down the throat of Jack Lyon, a big chance for the Braves to get themselves ahead early on.
In a back and forth opening to the game, Hearts opened the scoring.
In the 16th minute, Josh Radcliffe played the free kick short to the edge of the area to Matty Gillies and he hit a brilliant low drive into the bottom right corner for 1-0, giving goalkeeper Bernard White no chance.
Tommy North was Hearts’ unsung hero of the first half, as he held the ball up well up top and won the Jambos several free kicks in dangerous positions.
Towards the end of the first half, the Braves got their equaliser seemingly out of nowhere.
In the 42nd minute, Connor McLaren picked the ball up in midfield and spotted Hearts goalkeeper Jack Lyon off his line and scored an unbelievable goal from the halfway line to equalise for the visitors.
Half-time: Hearts 1-1 Caledonian Braves
Hearts looked to regain focus and go on the attack again to begin the second 45.
Half-time substitute Henry James sprinted down the left wing and fired in the cross to the back post, but it didn’t reach striker Tommy North and went out for a goal kick.
In the 66th minute, the Braves looked to hurt Hearts on the break.
Lyon was called into action as he thwarted Ryan Murray’s low effort.
The young goalkeeper did well again in the 79th minute after Breadner’s effort from the free kick on the left looked to be arrowing into the bottom left corner, but Lyon palmed it away to safety.
Substitute Dom Plank looked to make the difference coming off the bench. In the 87th minute, he drove down the left wing, cut inside into the box and let fly on his right foot, but his effort was blocked away by a resolute Braves defence.
The winger had another chance to nick a goal right at the death for Hearts. The ball broke to Plank in the box who shifted it on to his left foot and struck one, but White was able to claim it.
Hearts huffed and puffed but in the end they had to settle for a point in the Lowland League.
Hearts: Lyon, Crookston (James, 46’), Smutek ©, Osborne, Ross (Hogarth, 83’), Gillies, Radcliffe (Glasgow, 46), Muirhead (Dow, 69’), Stevenson, S.Wilson (Plank, 62’), North
Subs: MacDonald, James, Dow, Plank, Glasgow, Hogarth
Caledonian Braves: White, Brown, Guthrie ©, Martins, Butterworth, Kelly, McNeil, McLaren, Miurray, Clocherty, Walker
Subs: King, Breadner, Walker, Biggar, Mcarthur, Bright Prince Okosun
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, assistant coach Lee Wallace said:
“We did set out some challenges to the lads to be really effective in their football and maintain a lot of their threats, playing through playing the lines in behind because we know that can be a big threat against more physical teams.
“We're a little bit disappointed as a group on our work in the final third. We worked really hard on that and we'll continue to work hard with the boys and give them the practice and support that they need. But they do really well to get up the pitch and it's just that last pass. It’s that detail that we keep hammering home with the players, to finish off these attacks and get their rewards and a good momentum swing. But as I say, we'll keep working hard with them.
Wallace was impressed with Matty Gillies’ opener, and said there has been a big focus on set plays during this hectic schedule for the B team.
“It was well improvised. We prioritised the set plays before the game, it’s been a theme now for a few weeks that anything we can do quick we do quick. I think Josh (Radcliffe) could play a better pass, but nonetheless, Matty obviously steps on to it and finishes really well.
“At that point the boys have got a great feel and I think with this group, if you look at the squad, both the 18s and the B team, they didn’t win a lot of games. That feeling of being ahead, the feeling of trying to go on and win a game is the priority because that's obviously of huge importance at this football club. At the same time there’s the developmental lens and the boys did really well in some sticky moments in the second-half to stay in the game.”
With a quick turnaround to the Wee Jambos’ next fixture away to Berwick Rangers next Tuesday, Wallace discussed the importance of rallying the team ahead of another big test in the Lowland League.
“I think it's just a consistent message, the boys will enjoy their day off tomorrow and come Sunday we'll go again. There are a lot of games to play, which means a lot of brilliant opportunities for players.
“That was the task at the start of the game, show us how much you want to be a footballer, and what underpins what it means to be a Hearts player and what underpins a performance.
“I think the boys have got brilliant opportunities to do that in these coming games and that's why training is really important and for us, every training day matters, every session matters to make yourself available for these squads and opportunities.”
