A frustrating afternoon for Hearts B ended with a 3-2 defeat to Caledonian Braves at Alliance Park on Saturday.
There was one change from the side that drew with Celtic in Airdrie eight days ago as Luke Rathie returned from injury to replace Lucas Smith in the middle of the back four.
The Wee Jambos were looking to build on a positive performance last Friday, but they made a poor start and were behind inside ten minutes. Cameron Breadner had enjoyed some early joy on the right wing for Braves and he skipped past Henry Lister before crossing for Ross McNeil, who brought the ball down and fired low past Jamie MacDonald to open the scoring.
Things got even worse for the men in maroon just five minutes later as the home side doubled their advantage. This time, McNeil was sent clean through on goal, and he kept his cool to beat MacDonald for the second time.
Hearts had given themselves a mountain to climb, but they started to create some openings of their own as the half wore on, mainly through McLuckie. Firstly, the left winger found himself on the opposite flank and cut inside forcing a good stop at the near post from Bernard White just before the half hour mark.
Five minutes later, McLuckie was involved again. This time leading the counter attack down the left wing, he showed good determination to wriggle away from two Braves defenders, before pulling the ball back for Gregor Burn to let fly, but again, the low shot was saved by White at the near post.
Half-time: Caledonian Braves 2-0 Hearts B
Hearts were needing to produce a flawless second half if they were to get back into the match, but Braves added a third when Ryan Murray turned home a cross from the right, 11 minutes after the interval.
One of the few positives on a difficult afternoon for the Wee Jambos was the return from injury of both Luke Rathie and Callum Sandilands. The latter came on for the final half hour and made an instant impact glancing home a free kick from the right to give Hearts hope.
The Jam Tarts were seeing plenty of the ball, but Braves were keeping the back door firmly shut and when Hearts did get in, luck was not on their side. Highlighted by a chance on the 73rd minute, which saw McLuckie’s cross scrambled off the line by the home side.
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Wee Jambos and despite seeing plenty of the ball in the second half, they were always chasing the game and to Braves’ credit, they were well organised in the second half and didn’t give up many opportunities to allow Hearts back into the match.
The men in maroon kept fighting however and they did pull another goal back in the final minute of normal time. White made a good save to keep out Ryan Duncan’s free kick, but James Wilson was on hand to fire home the rebound from an acute angle.
It wasn’t to be in the end for the Jambos and despite a strong finish, the poor start proved their undoing, the misery confirmed in stoppage time as Matty Gillies received a second yellow card for a foul in the middle of the park.
Hearts: MacDonald, Smutek, Stevenson (Muirhead, 67), McLuckie, Duncan ©, Wilson, Gillies, Ross (Sandilands, 58), James, Rathie, Burn (Crookston, 67)
Subs: Lyon, Sandilands, Plank, Crookston, Muirhead, Osborne, Glasgow
Caledonian Braves: White, Brown, Stewart, Guthrie ©, Martins, Gkegka, McNeil, Breadner, McDowall, Murray, McLaren
Subs: McLaren, Clocherty, Gemmell, Spiers, Walker, McArthur, King
