Hearts B defeated Stirling University 3-1 at home in the Lowland League on Friday night.
Goals from Mackenzie Ross, Kai Smutek and Henry James secured the Wee Jambos’ first ever victory over the University side.
Angus Beith made three changes from the away defeat against Bo’ness United last Saturday, with Kai Smutek, Ryan Duncan and Gregor Burn coming into the team.
It was a cagey opening 20 minutes to the match with both teams battling for every ball.
Hearts nearly went ahead after Gregor Burn whipped in a dangerous cross which went over the head of Alex Sutherland in goal and hit off the inside of the back post and somehow stayed out.
The Wee Jambos found the opener not long after. Bailey Dall got down the right wing and fizzed in a dangerous low ball which found Mackenzie Ross at the back post who fired home from a few yards out for 1-0.
The Jambos doubled their advantage before half-time. The Hearts corner was headed out as far as skipper Kenzi Nair at the edge of the box, who played a great ball in behind the defence to find Kai Smutek who headed home into the bottom left corner for 2-0.
Half-time: Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Stirling University
Hearts looked to increase their advantage after the break.
Dom Plank drove through the centre of the park, got himself into the box and chopped onto his right foot before getting a strike away which was comfortable for Sutherland in goal.
The Jam Tarts got their third not long after. Dom Plank played a fantastic ball from deep in midfield to split the Stirling backline. It found Henry James in the box who rifled one into the top left corner, and matched his finish with an incredible backflip celebration.
Stirling Uni pulled one back in the 54th minute. Defender Isa Aslanoglu found himself free in the Hearts box at the back post, and scored with a side footed finish into the far corner for 3-1.
The goal injected energy into the away side, who continued to look dangerous going forward.
Alex Hodge was slipped in behind the Hearts defence and through on goal, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.
Moments later, the Jambos defence was tested with a dangerous cross from the left wing, which narrowly missed the head of striker Thomas Vonk.
With twenty minutes to go, Mackenzie Ross weaved his way into the Stirling penalty area and got a shot off on his right foot which was an easy take for Alex Johnstone.
Hearts goalkeeper Jack Lyon was forced off injured with a head knock late on, with Lyndon Tas coming on to replace him.
The substitute was called into action to make a brilliant save in the 90th minute.
Substitute Sam Martin nipped in behind the Hearts defence and hit one on his right foot which looked destined for the bottom left corner, but Tas got down well to make a brilliant low stop to keep it 3-1 and help his side to victory.
Speaking the Official Hearts Website at full-time, Angus Beith said:
“I thought we started the game pretty poorly. For the first 15 to 20 minutes we lacked quality and gave away too many balls. They caused a few problems with their runs in behind with the two powerful strikers that they had. But after that we started dealing with the direct balls, and better picking up the seconds.
“We improved massively with our quality and then started to take control of the game, creating more chances, and off the back of that we managed to get two goals.
“The second-half, not a great performance. They came and pressed us higher and more aggressively, we struggled to deal with that a bit. Both in playing short and even when we went long to miss the press, it kept coming back too easily which gave them the opportunities and a bit more control again.
“But then we managed the game brilliantly, and saw it out really well, and we stayed together. I’m really pleased for them to get the win.”
Hearts: Lyon (Tas 89’), Nair ©, Smutek, Duncan (Robb 46’), Plank, Gillies, Ross, James, Dall, Burn, Haddow (Mulholland 80’)
Subs: Tas, Robb, Banks, Mulholland
Stirling Uni: Sutherland, Blane, Service, Aslanoglu, Heal ©, Trotter, Hodge, Moffett, Vonk, Walker
Subs: Jenkins, Torregiani, Malcolm, Woloszyn, Tallen, Martin, Champness
