Boys' Academy Cup Success

Facing Aberdeen in each of the three finals, the U13s got the young maroons on the road to success with a 4-1 victory on Saturday, before the U15s narrowly lost 3-2. A day later it was the U14s’ turn and they emerged with a 2-1 victory. 

Speaking on the success of the Academy teams, Academy Director Frankie McAvoy said; ““It was great to see keenly contested matches across all three finals. Aberdeen are always a tough test for our boys and this proved the case once again. 

“Our U13s and U14s showed some quality stuff in their wins and our U15s were unfortunate in a close game to come away defeated. A huge congratulations to Aberdeen on their victory at U15s from all here at Hearts.

“To come away with two of the four CAS trophy’s shows the good progress our boys are making and is key to benchmarking our boys against others across the country. These victories come down to the excellent effort from all connected to the Academy. I would like to congratulate all our players, staff, parents/carers and all the Academy staff who have worked so hard throughout 2022 to make our Academy a success. Well done to all.”  

The U13s lifted the CAS Cup for the second year in-a-row after a 4-1 victory over Aberdeen. An evenly contested affair in the first period of the match ended with Peter Kellock putting Hearts 1-0 ahead just before the break after he swept into the top left corner following Cameron Clark’s cutback into the middle of the box.

Aberdeen equalised midway through the second 30-minute period though Henderson’s free-kick, but Hearts regained control not long into the third 30-minute period. Rhys Henderson’s corner was met by Clark and he bulleted a header into the back of the net.

An own goal gave Hearts a two-goal cushion with 65 minutes played and ten minutes later the game was put to bed after Daniel McCandless’s shot was saved but the follow up fell to Kellock to stab the ball home.

Squad: 1. Aiden Duncan (GK), 2. Jude Hynd, 3. Allan Clark, 4. Robbie Flockhart, 5. Peter Kellock, 6. Harry Willox, 7. Cameron Clark, 8. Keir McMeekin, 9. Rhys Henderson, 10. Boyd Fraser, 11. Daniel McCandless, 12. Ben Hodge, 14. Sinan Karahevic, 15. Lucas Park, 16. Liam Gordon, 21. Finlay Jamieson (GK).

Coaches: Craig Dinwoodie, Nicky Laughlin & Jayh Karia.
 

The 2008 squad – the U15s – were defending champions following their success in last year’s U14s competition.

A gluttony of goals late in the first half had Aberdeen in front, with Hearts’ Joshua Radcliffe dispatching a penalty inbetween Fletcher Boyd and Jack Searle strikes for the Dons.

Boyd would bag a brace five minutes into the restart but the young Jambos’ persistency paid off with 14 minutes remaining when the Aberdeen defence failed to deal with Josh Radcliffe’s lofted ball into the box, and he latched back on to the loose ball to whip a clinical first-time finish across the goalkeeper and into the opposite corner.

Agonisingly, Hearts’ James Mulholland would hit the post late on as Aberdeen held on to clinch victory.

Squad: 1. Jack Lyon (GK, 2. Lewis Walker, 3. Joshua Radcliffe, 4. Ryan Kelly, 5. Euan Glasgow, 6. Euan Banks, 7. Alfie Hutchison, 8. Taylor Hogarth, 9. Callen Robb, 10. Charlie Sanders, 11. Lucas McAuley, 12. Caiden Marwick, 14. Jayden Mathie, 15. Liam Middleton, 16. Alfie Osborne, 17. James Mulholland, 21. Lyndon Tas (GK).

Coaches: Chris Shanks & Mark Millar
 

The final match of a busy weekend for Hearts’ Academy teams was on Sunday as the U14s took to the Station Park pitch looking to emulate their U13s cup success of the year previous.

It was Aberdeen who took the lead 26 minutes in through Aaron Fraser’s close-range finish, but 20 minutes later the Jam Tarts were back on level terms. Jayden Mathie was played through on goal following some great link-up play between Sam Dickov and Stanley Wilson. Though his initial shot was blocked, he regained his composure to turn his man before curling a left-foot effort into the opposite corner.

With 15 minutes remaining, Hearts scored what turned out to be the winner. Alfie Hutchison took out five Aberdeen defenders, cutting in from the left before finding Mathie, who took a touch before firing a swivelling shot across the keeper and into the back of the net.

Hearts defended magnificently in the closing stages to see out the win and lift the trophy, capping off a fine weekend for the club’s Academy.

Squad: 1. Cain Reiter (GK), 2. Alfie Wilson, 3. Luke Ramage, 4. John Dodds, 5. Stanley Wilson, 6. Liam Walker, 7. Jayden Mathie, 8. Sam Dickov, 9. Connor Dow, 10. Alfie Hutchison, 11. Yanis McLean, 12. Alan Tabol, 14. Cayden Shek, 15. Daniel Gray, 16. Oscar Fitzsimmons, 17. Leo Harris, 18. Ciaran Devlin, 19. Jack Quinn, 20. Blair Flood, 21. Lucas Reid (GK).

Coaches: David McNeil, Angus Beith & Steven Hamilton