Angus Beith has praised his young Hearts B side for the character they showed to battle back to take a point against Broomhill on Tuesday night.
The Wee Jambos fell behind midway through the first half through a spot-kick by Connor Dow netted his first goal for the B Team to ensure a share of the spoils.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Beith said:
”I actually thought that we played really well for the rest of the game tonight. In the first half we started the game brilliantly. Our decision making was really good, the pitch obviously isn't the best here and our decision making on whether to play in behind or go and play through was really good.
“We mixed it up really well, got up on seconds, competed really well which is going to be important tonight. I'm just disappointed that we made the mistake for the penalty. It then becomes a game where they're more in control and they can sit a wee bit deeper and frustrate us.
“But the character that we showed in the second half was brilliant. We kept going, stuck together and Conor's taken his goal brilliantly which I'm delighted for.
"I think as well when they go 1-0 up it makes it more difficult for us because they get bodies behind the ball and they're happy to just sit and camp in front of their 18-yard line.
"It becomes more difficult to break them down. We did brilliantly to open up with Kenzi's pass and Connor's touch and finish which was magnificent. That's what it was going to take against that sort of low block, whatever you want to call it.
“Then we had the momentum and then Kenzi gets sent off. I felt like we had seven or eight minutes to go at that point. Kenzi gets sent off which is disappointing and flips the momentum again.
“It was a brilliant experience for them. I said that to them before the game, it's going to be so different to the games that we've played recently on Astro. Against teams that like to play as well, East Stirling, East Kilbride, Gala.
“It was going to be a different type of game today. It was almost going to be a personality test for a lot of them. I thought Alfie Osborne, Taylor came through that test.
“I thought Taylor was excellent in the first half. Alfie as well showed some really good moments. Callen and Connor came on and worked well together as a two.
“It took them a bit of time to get into the game, but then they started being a threat in the second part of the second half. Then Connor gets his reward, so I'm delighted for them. As you say, a brilliant experience for them on a tricky pitch where you have to adapt your game a wee bit, gamble and anticipate and play off each other. They did that well."
Asked if some of the younger members of the group can expect more game time in the final matches of the season, Beith replied:
“Yeah, definitely. We've obviously got two suspensions now as well, so there's going to be more opportunities for the under-18s and then opportunities for the 16s to then play in the 18 squad as well.
“That's the way it's working at the moment, so they'll get opportunities to play again. I think as well, if you come on and you score, then you're in my thoughts. I think that's the same for every manager.
“For Connor, Callen's had a good performance as well. Alfie and Taylor [Hogarth] are the same. These guys are competing with the so-called older players and starting players, which is a really positive thing to have in the squad.”
