Hearts B got back to winning ways with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Civil Service Strollers at Christie Gillies Park on Saturday.
Angus Beith made two changes from last time out against Cumbernauld Colts, with Ethan Drysdale coming in for Lucas Smith and Callum Sandilands replacing Gus Stevenson.
Strollers had the stronger start to the match, and were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute. The ball was played behind the Hearts backline and Jack Lyon was quick off his line, but unfortunately took out attacker Ben Black in the box.
Captain Alieu Faye scored from the spot to put the hosts in front, with his strike going straight down the middle.
Moments later, it was nearly a second for Strollers. Following a scramble in the Hearts penalty area, Black got the ball onto his right foot and got a strike off, which forced Lyon to make a good stop down to his right hand side.
It wouldn’t be long until the Jambos got themselves on level terms. Winger Dominic Plank drove down the left wing and into the box, before playing a great cut-back across the six yard box, which found skipper Callum Sandilands who slotted home into the bottom right corner for 1-1.
On 28 minutes, Hearts were awarded a penalty of their own. Gregor Crookston drove down the right wing and into the box, before getting chopped down by a Civil Service defender. Mackenzie Ross stepped up and slotted one into the bottom right corner, which went just under the gloves of Freddie Owens in goal to make it 2-1.
The home side would hit back once again. After a mistake in midfield, Ben Black strided forward and into the Hearts penalty area. He managed to get a shot off on his left foot, which curled into the top left corner to get Civil Service level for 2-2.
Hearts regained the lead just before the break. Ethan Drysdale played a great pass through to Plank on the left wing, who took on two Civil defenders before cutting in on his right foot and scored into the bottom left corner for 3-2.
Half-time: Civil Service Strollers 2-3 Heart of Midlothian
The hosts had a positive start to the second half. The ball was played over the top of the Hearts defence which came to Black in the box, who struck a shot on his right foot into the bottom left corner, but it was ruled out for offside.
Hearts doubled their advantage on 57 minutes. Ryan Duncan picked the ball up on the left hand side, who drove into the box before he unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom left corner for 4-2.
Minutes after, the Jambos had another chance to extend their lead, after McLuckie curled in a brilliant ball with his left foot to the back post which met the head of Ross, but it was a comfortable save for Owens in the end.
Goalkeeper Jack Lyon was called into action for Hearts to make a fantastic save. Following a scramble in the Hearts penalty area, Black got a shot away which forced a low stop from Lyon.
The Jam Tarts would put the game to bed on 70 minutes. Midfielder Bobby McLuckie scored a fantastic free kick from just outside the box. His left-footed effort curled under the gloves of Owens and nestled into the bottom right corner for 5-2.
Civil Service Strollers: Owens, McCulloch, Valentine, Shaw, Laing, McLeod, Scott, Smith, Faye ©, Black, Yeats
Subs: Kazoka, Aluko, Gwompeter, Findlay, Mulvanny, Sylla
Hearts: Lyon, Drysdale (Osborne 46’), Nair, Smutek, McLuckie, Duncan, Sandilands ©, Plank (Stevenson 83’), Gillies (James 46’), Ross (Robb 83’), Crookston
Subs: MacDonald, Smith, Stevenson, James, Muirhead, Robb, Osborne
