Match Report: Hearts B 3-3 East Stirlingshire

Hearts fought back late to draw 3-3 against East Stirlingshire at Vanloq Community Stadium – Ainslie Park on Friday night.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, the Wee Jambos responded through captain Kai Smutek and a brace from striker Connor Dow to claim a point in Pilton.

Angus Beith made three changes from the 3-1 defeat to Bo’ness United last weekend, with Alfie Wilson, Liam Walker and Callen Robb all returning to the starting lineup.

Hearts began on the front foot, but the visitors struck first. On six minutes, a loose pass at the back allowed Finlay Malcolm to react quickest in the box, take a touch and finish calmly into the bottom-right corner. Malcolm doubled the lead soon after, glancing a header into the bottom-left corner from a cross on the right.

Half-time: Hearts 0–2 East Stirlingshire

Hearts pushed to get themselves back into the game after the interval. They halved the deficit on 56 minutes when a defensive error from East Stirlingshire allowed Dow to pounce, control, and drive a low shot into the bottom-right corner for 2-1.

The equaliser arrived in the 65th minute. A corner from the right was left by Alfie Osborne for skipper Smutek, whose first-time strike crashed off the underside of the bar and in.

East Stirlingshire regained the lead from the penalty spot, with Docherty converting into the bottom-right corner for 3-2 in the 67th minute.

Hearts continued to press and were awarded a penalty in the closing stages after Henry James was brought down in the box. Dow stepped up and confidently placed his effort into the bottom-right corner, securing both his second of the evening and a late point for the Wee Jambos.

Speaking to the Official Hearts website at full-time, Angus Beith said: 

“I was disappointed with the start. We didn't press with any real aggression and the duels, our contacts weren't there. We allowed them to get some rhythm in the game. So that was disappointing and obviously ultimately led to them leading at half-time. 

“We talked about keeping the ball better as well before the game and it was an emphasis on that and training and again probably let ourselves down a wee bit in the first half. But the response was excellent second-half. They ran with more aggression, more intensity. 

“We made contact when we went and pressed, so that enabled us to get a foothold in the game, and we had moments of quality as well at the top end of the pitch, so a good second-half, and I think overall the pleasing thing is we go down twice and we get back to 2-0 and then 3-3.”

The manager praised defender Alfie Wilson, who started in the match with his brother Stanley who has been a regular in midfield this season for Hearts B.

“Alfie Wilson's attitude is first class as well, and he's a delight to work with.”

Beith explained the thinking behind the substitution of Aiden Haddow with Owen Muirhead coming on to replace him in the 40th minute.

“It was a forced change because Aidan's groin was sore, so that was the reason that he came off. Owen probably gave us a little bit more aggression and naturally with his size, a little bit more ability to go and be aggressive in the middle of the pitch.

“Liam (Walker) moved out in the wide position and then we tweaked it a wee bit in the second-half and pulled Cal (Robb) out a wee bit wider but we still wanted them to be in close contact with Connor (Dow). 

“I felt like we had more numbers in the middle of the pitch to go and compete and be aggressive and a little bit more solid out of possession. So I think that helped us.”

Beith assessed the performance of striker Connor Dow, who grabbed a brace for himself against The Shire.

“He looks like he's maybe a wee bit lower on confidence, Connor, but I think he’ll learn a lot through this period. He can definitely link the game a little bit better. But I felt like his endeavour and his pressing at the top end of the pitch, particularly in the second-half, not so much the first half, was first class.

“So again, demonstrating that resilience that we're talking about, that he keeps going. He needs to anticipate things a wee bit better, but he's getting better at that. So I like his attitude, I like his behaviours, particularly in the second-half, and he gets rewarded as well with two goals. The first one is a great finish. And then, good bottle under pressure to go and get the equaliser as well, so close to the final whistle.”

The manager looked ahead to Tuesday night’s KDM Evolution Trophy clash against Kelty Hearts.

“I think another brilliant test for us, and it's obviously the last in this series, if you want to call it that, but we've still got a chance of going through. We need results to go for us. Unfortunately, if we manage to hold on to a draw, in my opinion, we were well worthy of a win that day against East Kilbride, but that's done. 

“We've still got an opportunity to go through. We just need to take care of our game and hopefully get the winner. We need to get the win and then we'll see what the other results are.”

Hearts: Lyon, James, Smutek ©, Osborne, Dow, Haddow (Muirhead, 40’), Wilson, Wilson, Walker (Crookston, 72’), Robb, Donkor

Subs: Tas, Crookston, Smith, Ross, Muirhead 

East Stirlingshire: Cantley, Docherty, Gomis ©,  McRoberts, Murray, O’Neill, Malcolm, McCafferty, Hislop, MacDonald, Mitchell 

Subs: Mitchell, Lamont, Tapping, MacDonald, Dowie, MacAlpine, Taylor