Angus Beith marked his first game as permanent head coach of the Hearts B team with a hard-fought victory, against Broxburn Athletic in the Lowland League on Friday night.
The new man in the dugout made two changes from last time out against Cowdenbeath, with Ryan Duncan and Mackenzie Ross replacing James Wilson and Gregor Crookston.
The Wee Jambos looked comfortable in the early exchanges, despite the freezing conditions at Ainslie Park.
Skipper Callum Sandilands had an early chance to open the scoring with an acrobatic effort that deflected off a Broxburn defender. The ball found its way to Mackenzie Ross, who couldn’t get a shot off.
Hearts would soon capitalise on their promising start to the match. With 15 minutes gone, Dominic Plank charged down the left wing and flicked the ball into the path of Sandilands and he picked out Ross, who slotted past goalkeeper Robert Watt into the bottom corner for 1-0.
Outside of the goal, chances were few and far between for either side in the first half.
Broxburn saw a lot of the ball but struggled to cause the Hearts defence any real issues.
The home side had a good chance to double their advantage just before the break. Ross got in behind the Broxburn backline, and laid the ball off for Sandilands, who’s shot forced a save from Watt from close range.
Moments later, Hearts looked to be in again. It was great play once more down the right flank, as Gus Stevenson played a cut-back to Matty Gillies at the edge of the box, but his strike was blocked by a Broxburn defender and out for a corner.
Half-time: Hearts 1-0 Broxburn Athletic
In the second half, the Jambos defence managed to stay compact as Broxburn began to grow into the game, and looked threatening from set-pieces in particular.
The away side whipped in a dangerous corner, which found Fionn Kay for a free header, but his effort was headed brilliantly off the line by skipper Sandilands.
Following yet another teasing ball into the box, it came off the head of defender Lucas Smith, which forced a spectacular reaction save from Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald to protect the lead.
With twenty minutes to go, Plank went on a brilliant run down the left wing before passing to Mackenzie Ross. He managed to pick out Smith in the box, but his effort was easily claimed by Watt in goal.
The Brox continued to turn the screw as they looked for a late leveller. Skipper Errol Douglas had a golden opportunity in the 85th minute. Substitute Gary Brass floated a ball into the six yard box which Douglas met, but his header was straight at Jamie MacDonald from close range.
The Wee Jambos had the chance to put the game to bed just moments later. In the 90th minute, Sandilands attempted to round the goalkeeper, which Broxburn managed to scramble away. The ball fell to Macaulay Tait at the edge of the box, who’s eyes lit up at the sight of an empty net, but his effort was blocked and put behind for a corner.
It didn't matter however, as the men in maroon saw out the remainder of the match to pick up all three points.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Beith said:
“I thought in the first half we were good. We passed the ball well, had good control in the game and we carried a threat. We created good opportunities; it was just the last moment or final pass that let us down.
“The first half it was a really positive performance from us, but in the second half we lost control. We didn’t pass the ball well enough, looked long too many times and that played into their strengths.
“But the real pleasing aspect for me is us seeing out the result with a clean sheet. We've been working loads in training recently on defending the box, those transition moments when we lose it, so to keep a clean sheet and to see out that period of momentum, where they were after us and creating chances was really important and pleasing.”
Hearts: MacDonald, Smith (James, 90), Nair, Smutek, Stevenson, Duncan, Sandilands ©, Plank (McLuckie, 72), Gillies, Ross (Robb, 85), Tait
Subs: Lyon, McLuckie, Crookston, James, Robb
Broxburn Athletic: Watt, Rodden, G. Page, J. Page, Bell, Wardell, Jones, Douglas ©, Smith, Kay, Irving
Subs: Pettigrew, Mwangi, Brass, Thomson, Ellis, Millar, Locke
