Hearts B were defeated 4-3 by Bo’ness United at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon.
Angus Beith made three changes from the home defeat against Strollers last Friday night. Henry James came in to replace on-loan Ethan Drysdale, Dominic Plank replaced Bobby McLuckie on the wing, and Alfie Osborne replaced Ryan Duncan in midfield.
Bo’ness started the game on the front foot and looked threatening in attack.
The home side had a good chance to go ahead on six minutes. Gregor Crookston and Alfie Obsborne collided in the middle of the park, which allowed striker Smart Osadalor to go through on goal. Owen Muirhead sprinted back and cleared it away brilliantly from danger for the Jambos.
Hearts had their first chance of the afternoon shortly after. Following a slip in midfield, Matty Gillies was played in on the left wing. He hit a low shot which was saved comfortably by Liam Campbell in goal.
Bo’ness nearly went ahead following a good cut back from the left wing by Kieran Mitchell which found Louis Kennedy, but he failed to convert from a few yards out with a great low save from Hearts goalkeeper Jack Lyon.
Owen Muirhead was unfortunately forced off after only 15 minutes after he pulled up with a hamstring injury.
The B.U.'s made their pressure count on 25 minutes. Irving played a through ball out to the right wing to Kieran Mitchell, who drove into the box and struck low into the bottom left corner for 1-0.
The Jambos hit back almost straight away. Following some neat passing in the build-up, Matty Gillies played it in behind the Bo’ness backline to find Aiden Haddow in the box, who buried his shot low into the bottom right corner on his left foot for 1-1.
In the 34th minute, Bo’ness thought they had regained their lead as Louis Kennedy had the ball in the net, but referee Jordan Curran blew his whistle for offside.
The hosts went ahead on 37 minutes. Kennedy whipped the ball in from a free kick at the edge of the area. It missed everyone and looped into the top right corner for 2-1.
Bo’ness doubled their advantage just before the break. The ball was cleared as far as Louis Kennedy at the edge of the box who curled one into the top left corner for 3-1.
Half-time: Bo’ness United 3-1 Heart of Midlothian
The Jam Tarts looked to improve in the second half.
Hearts pulled one back in the 51st minute. The ball was fired into Taylor Hogarth in the box, he produced a smart turn to wriggle away from a Bo’ness defender and fired a powerful shot into the bottom left corner for 3-2, his first ever goal for Hearts B.
Matty Gillies played a great through ball to split the Bo’ness defence and Mackenzie Ross latched onto it in the box, but he was unable to get a shot away and it was cleared from danger by the hosts.
Bo’ness scored their fourth of the afternoon shortly after. A free-kick from the right side of the penalty area was pinged to the back post, and substitute Ryan Schiavone eventually tapped it in on the line for 4-2.
In the 88th minute, the Jambos made it 4-3. The ball was lofted from midfield which forced Josh Campbell to rush out of his area. Dominic Plank was quick to beat him, and headed it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The Wee Jambos continued to turn the screw deep into injury time.
Henry James got down to the byline and played a low cut-back into a crowded penalty area. It found Dominic Plank who hit a first time shot on his right foot which went agonisingly wide of the post.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Beith said:
“We didn't start the game brilliantly, but I think that's often the case when you come away to these grounds in this league as they play direct and they make it a really aggressive physical game.
“For half an hour we passed the ball really well. Unfortunately for us, we got caught with a couple of goals in transition and a set play which has been our Achilles heel this year. We conceded from two set plays which is really disappointing.
“The positive is that the boys worked tremendously hard all the way through the game, they competed brilliantly and they played some really good football and scored three good goals. The disappointing thing is how easily we conceded and the softness of the goals against us.”
Bo’ness United: Campbell, Kennedy, MacAulay ©, Dawkins, Duffy, Hutchison, Irving, Connolly, Mitchell, Osadolor, Grant
Subs: Ritchie, Stevenson, Dowling, Rutherford, McCormick, Grant
Hearts: Lyon, Nair ©, Dall, Plank, Gillies (Robb 71’), Ross, Crookston, James, Muirhead (Hogarth 15’), Osborne, Haddow
Subs: MacDonald, Stevenson, Robb, Glasgow, Hogarth
