Kirk at the double for Wee Jambos

Steven Naismith made three changes to the side that defeated Berwick Rangers last weekend, Aidan Denholm, Callum Sandilands and Luke Rathie replaced Lewis Neilson, Finlay Pollock and Connor Smith.

The Wee Jambos hit the students for nine when the sides met earlier in the season, but even in the early stages of this clash, Uni showed far more than they did that afternoon with David Maskrey firing an early chance wide.

The men in maroon were not playing anywhere near their best, but they went ahead on the half hour mark. Adam Forrester made ground down the right and his cross was bulleted home by Makenzie Kirk to open the scoring.

Hearts were starting to grow into the game and much of their good work was coming from Forrester. The full back again got to the byline, but this time his cross was missed by Bobby McLuckie.

Into the second half, the Wee Jambos didn’t hang about in securing the points. Hearts had had joy all afternoon down the right and when Murray Thomas again found space, his looping cross went all the way over Cameron Quate and into the back of the student’s net.

Macaulay Tait was seeing plenty of the ball in the Hearts midfield and his delicate through ball for left back Leo Watson allowed the defender to float a cross in which was missed by Kirk, and when the ball fell to Thomas, Uni threw bodies in the way to keep the score at 2-0.

It had been a game of few opportunities, but the men in maroon had been ruthless when chances had arrived, and Kirk added his second 15 minutes from time. McLuckie made ground down the left and his low cross was tapped home by Kirk.

The Wee Jambos didn’t let their tempo drop and continued in their search for more goals and McLuckie almost got on the scoresheet himself but was denied by a fantastic point-blank save from Quate. Forrester again galloped down the right and he squared for McLuckie who was brilliantly denied by the stopper.

Hearts saw the remainder of the game out with ease to record a deserved victory, despite not playing their best and make it five games unbeaten. Next up, Gretna 2008.

Hearts: McFarlane, Watson, Darge ©, Tait, Denholm (Duncan, 78), Sandilands (Flatman, 61), Kirk, Thomas, Forrester, Rathie, McLuckie

Subs: Stone, Flatman, Duncan, Nair

Edinburgh University: Quate, Murray, Thomson, Mail, Ainslie, Murray, Maskrey, Dick, Marshall, Lawton, Kay

Subs: McDonald, Anderson, Gray, Hamilton, Raphael, Almass