Hearts B were held to a 1-1 draw with Gala Fairydean Rovers in a competitive Lowland League encounter at Netherdale Arena.
A deflection off the shirt of Ciaran Greene had catapulted Hearts into the lead after 54 minutes. Liam Fox’s side had a number of chances after that, but a Danny Galbraith penalty ten minutes from time saw the Wee Jambos return to Edinburgh with a point.
Hearts carved out the first big chance after seven minutes. Bailey Dall, the architect of several lovely moves throughout the afternoon, cut back for Harry Gordon in the middle. Gala ‘keeper Jay Cantley parried his initial shot before sharply stopping Ryan Duncan’s follow up.
In an end-to-end encounter, the young Maroons created a fair share of opportunities – Bobby McLuckie both cracked the bar and saw a goal chopped off for offside, before Makenzie Kirk poked an effort narrowly wide on the cusp of half-time.
The second-half saw Hearts maintain the pressure, which was promptly rewarded after 54 minutes when Bobby McLuckie’s corner took a wicked deflection off the shirt of Ciaran Greene, with the ball rippling the back of the net.
Hearts kept at it, but an inability to finish in front of goal across the second 45 would come back to frustrate the Wee Jambos. The hosts grew in confidence throughout, both Liam Watt and Trialist going close for the Fairydean.
The equaliser arrived after 77 minutes when a trip on Gala’s Trialist in the Hearts box saw a penalty awarded to Gala. Skipper Danny Galbraith stepped up, and despite McFarlane diving the right way, the Gala man converted to secure a point in the Borders.
Hearts: McFarlane, Dall (Muirhead 70’), McLuckie (Stevenson 61’), Sandilands, Kirk, Gordon, Nair, Duncan (Drysdale 61’), Rathie, Friel, Ross
Subs: Trialist, Stevenson, Drysdale, Smutek, Chisholm, Muirhead
