Hearts B were defeated in their final game of 2025 in a 2-1 loss against Civil Service Strollers on Tuesday night.
Liam Walker got on the scoresheet for the Wee Jambos, but Alieu Faye’s goal was enough for the visitors to secure the victory in Pilton.
Angus Beith made six changes from Saturday’s 2-0 away defeat against Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.
Jack Lyon replaced Lyndon Tas in between the sticks, skipper Kai Smutek returned to start ahead of Alfie Osborne, Lucas Smith was preferred to Henry James in defence, Gus Stevenson came back from his Montrose co-operation loan for Stanley Wilson in midfield, Aiden Haddow came in for Charlie Sanders and Liam Kelly replaced Gregor Crookston.
It was a blistering start to the match in Pilton with two goals inside the opening 10 minutes.
The visitors took the lead as the ball was whipped in from the right and Pollock volleyed one past Jack Lyon for 1-0.
In the fifth minute, the Wee Jambos hit back as Gus Stevenson played the ball over the top of the Civil Service defence and Liam Walker arrived to poke the ball home into the bottom left corner for 1-1.
After a decent period for Hearts, Civil Service regained the lead on 26 minutes. It was played through to Alieu Faye and with Jack Lyon racing off his line, the striker lofted the ball over his head and into the back of the net for 2-1.
On 38 minutes, Tommy North slipped Walker in behind the Civil defence, he looked to place it in the far corner from a tight angle, but his effort went agonisingly wide of the post.
Half-time: Hearts 1-2 Civil Service Strollers
The Wee Jambos came out with renewed intent after the interval as they searched for yet another equaliser. On 57 minutes, Aiden Haddow was sent clear behind the Strollers defence, but his first-time effort on his right foot slid wide of the target.
Hearts continued to push and were inches away from snatching a late equaliser. In the 87th minute, Euan Glasgow delivered an excellent cross from the right, picking out North in the box, but his header flew just over the bar.
There was still time for one final chance. In the dying moments, Taylor Hogarth drove into the area, shifted the ball onto his left foot and unleashed a curling effort that drifted narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
Despite a spirited second-half showing, it wasn’t to be for the Wee Jambos, as Civil Service held on to secure the win as Hearts B fell to a narrow Lowland League defeat in their final outing of the year.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“It's really disappointing the goals that we're losing at the moment. It's not taking a lot for the opposition to be able to score against us, which is really frustrating. Two easy goals to concede, another one from my set play and then another situation or a goalkeeper comes out for no reason and then makes the job of the striker easy. We can't keep putting ourselves in that situation.
“On the flip side of that, we need to score really good goals against these teams. And our goal was excellent with Gus (Stevenson) and Liam (Walker) linking up really, really well and a great finish.
“In the second half, we dealt with that long ball threat and second ball threat and stopped more crosses as well, which was more pleasing and that gave us a better platform to go and create chances of our own.
“I think the first half as well, Cal's got a brilliant chance off the back of a pass from Tommy and Euan Glasgow’s ball for Tommy North’s header was magnificent, and Tommy's got to score. We have a couple of wee half ones with Taylor (Hogarth) at the edge of the box and Jaeden (Mathie), who made a really good impact when he came on.
“As I said, it’s frustrating that we aren't shown that quality and ruthlessness in front of goal and then at the other end, letting goals in that are far too easy from our perspective.
The manager reflected on Kai Smutek’s sending off, who will undoubtedly be a miss in defence for the Wee Jambos after just returning from injury.
“Yeah, it's really disappointing because we've had too many of those types of red cards this season. Owen’s (Muirhead) had a couple. Connor (Dow) had one as well, and now Kai (Smutek), and it's part of their learning, but I think they need to learn and adapt to these sorts of situations quicker.”
Beith looked ahead to the B Team’s fixture against Stirling University at home in the New Year.
“I think it's a continued message and it's unfortunate that we have to relay these messages so often, but minimising errors is going to be massive for us to going forward to be able to pick up more points and have some more positive results and performances, and being more clinical in front to goal that the game's won in both boxes and at the moment, that's what probably where we're suffering most.”
Hearts: Lyon, Smutek ©, Smith, Dow (Mathie, 70’), Haddow, Glasgow, Stevenson (Hogarth, 85’), Kelly, Walker, Robb, North
Subs: MacDonald, Crookston, James, Sanders, Hogarth, Mathie
Civil Service Strollers: Meek, McCulloch, Valentine, Clarke, Pollock, Yeats, Findlay, Laird, Faye, Duncan, McGinn
Subs: Shaw, Coats, Mill, dos Santos, Beveridge, TRIALIST, Scoon
