Hearts ended their 26-year-wait for a Scottish FA Youth Cup trophy with a 4-0 hammering of Queen’s Park at Hampden on Tuesday evening.
The Jambos found themselves 1-0 up at the break following Euan Banks’ opener, before second half goals from Tommy North, Connor Dow and Jayden Mathie sealed a historic victory for David McNeil and his side.
Hearts showed plenty of energy early on in the Hampden sunshine, as they looked to test the Queen’s Park defence straight away.
Josh Radcliffe floated a perfect ball cross field and over the top to winger Jaedon Donkor who latched on to it, but saw his effort go wide. Just after, Tommy North saw his low strike denied by Aitchison in goal.
On 6 minutes, Donkor caused issues yet again as his powerful strike was tipped behind for a Hearts corner. Radcliffe looked to head it into the bottom corner, but after a scramble in goal, Queen’s Park managed to retain possession.
The Jam Tarts continued to turn the screw, as Donkor raced into the box and fired in a low cross. It came all the way to Stanley Wilson at the edge of the area who had a pop, but his effort was blazed over the bar in the end.
Hearts took the lead on 36 minutes. It was great work from Liam Walker down the left who fed it into Connor Dow in the box. The striker tested Aitchison with a low strike which was saved, and it then fell kindly to Euan Banks who arrived to smash it home into the top corner for 1-0.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 0-1 Hearts
The Wee Jambos doubled their advantage not long after the restart as Tommy North was bundled over in the box and Mark Daly pointed to the spot.
The striker stepped up and coolly dispatched his penalty into the bottom right corner for 2-0, giving Aitchison no chance.
Hearts made it three after 60 minutes. The throw-in was launched into the box, North headed it on and Dow pounced to expertly flick it past Aitchison from close range for 3-0.
On 63 minutes, Jack Lyon was called into action after Wright hit a thunderous effort which forced Lyon to make a fantastic save to deny him at full stretch.
Jayden Mathie made a huge impact off the bench to seal the game once and for all for Hearts. Taylor Hogarth sent in an excellent cross from the left into the box, and Mathie arrived to poke it past Aitchison and into the back of the net for 4-0.
In the end, it was an excellent performance by the boys in maroon, as they went on to lift the cup under the lights at Hampden.
Attendance: 2,496
Queen’s Park: Aitchison, Rodger, Afzal, Burke ©, Smith, Wright, Kerr, Maclachlan, Duffy, Goldie, Adams
Subs: Stevenson, Lafferty, Williamson, Browne, Edzii, Moore, Quail
Hearts: Lyon, Glasgow, Radcliffe, S. Wilson, Banks, Osborne ©, Walker (Hogarth, 65’), McMeekin (Fraser, 72’), Dow (Robb, 65’), North (Mathie,78’), Donkor (Sanders, 72’)
Subs: Tas, A. Wilson, Fraser, Sanders, Robb, Hogarth, Mathie
