With a few of the B Team in the first team squad to play Wigan again a young side was selected for this match with the poor weather forecast never as bad as first feared over the ninety minutes.
The Wee Jambos began on the front foot with Murray Thomas and Bobby McCluckie having early efforts, but it was the Seasider’s that took the lead, Liam Gregory volleying home a right wing cross from around eight yards.
Ryan Duncan shot narrowly over the crossbar before the equaliser came on 25 minutes, central defender Kai Smutek heading home a Thomas left wing corner kick from close range.
The visitors, playing some nice football, were now on top, apart from rare United attacks, with Ross and McCluckie coming close with further efforts before the Wee Jambos took the lead three minutes from half-time, Ross netting a Thomas right wing corner from around ten yards.
Into the second half, and Hearts were gifted a third goal on 49 minutes, Ross seizing on a poor clearance from goalkeeper Brennan and netting the loose ball from the edge of the box. The game was now of an even nature with both sides creating chances, the closest to another goal came when Smutek had a header cleared of the line on 69 minutes.
Liam Fox, happy with the victory, thought that the lads were really good in the first half, but were sloppy at times in the second half. In saying that was possibly being unfair to United who finished the game strongly.
HEARTS; Trialist; Friel (Burn 85), Nair (Walker 85), Selfridge (Trialist 60), Smutek, H Gordon (Chisholm 83), Ross (Plesiewicz 85), Duncan (Muirhead 60), Thomas, Stevenson (Crookston 73), McLuckie
