Hearts met Raith Rovers in a testimonial match commemorating the long service of Kirkcaldy stalwart, Ross Matthews this evening.
The Jambos took the lead in the first half at Stark's Park after Blair Spittal expertly finished Barrie McKay’s cutback. Lewis Jamieson notched early in the second 45, before a thumping header from Jack Hamilton with five minutes to go put Raith in front.
Dylan Easton then slotted home with minutes left on the clock for a quickire third as the Fife side claimed the victory.
Hearts fielded a side that was a blend of youth and experience in the Jambos’ final match before the international break.
The first chance of the piece fell the way of Raith after six minutes, Lewis Jamieson threaded Lewis Gibson into the Hearts area with a probing ball. The wide man cut inside and went for goal, but saw his effort turned behind via a deflection.
Josh Mullin was next to try his luck a few moments later, doing well to evade the attentions of his marker before bearing down on Ryan Fulton’s goal; with a nice block from Craig Halkett nicking the ball from his feet.
The Jambos fashioned a half-change after 13 minutes when James Penrice played a searching diagonal ball across the field to a surging Adam Forrester. The youngster did well to take it down, with his resulting effort dipping behind and over the bar.
Hearts almost got their noses in front three minutes later when Barrie McKay skipped past his marker and sent a low drive at goal, with his effort narrowly sneaking past the far post.
McKay was at the centre of the next chance after Yutaro Oda did well to skin his man and square to a waiting McKay in the area, with his first time attempt into the gloves of McNeil in the Raith goal.
The chances came thick and fast for the Jambos after that, with Liam Boyce sending a header across the face of goal courtesy of a delightful corner routine from Yan Dhanda but Raith were soon back in it.
The ball was cut back for Scott Brown who crashed late into the Jambos’ area, but saw his powerful volley narrowly go over the crossbar after some good build up play by Raith prior to that.
There was some more tricky play from Lewis Gibson who found joy once more by cutting inside down the left as he poked an effort across the face of goal.
The Jambos claimed the lead after 25 minutes, with Blair Spittal the man on the scoresheet. Barrie McKay did well to keep the ball alive at the byline and whipped a short ball across goal for a waiting Spittal; who fired high into the net.
Liam Fox’s men began to enjoy the rhythm they were building, and Liam Boyce twisted and turned away on the left side of the Raith box before laying off cutely to Blair Spittal. The forward tried to bulldoze through but was crowded out before being forced to poke wide.
Raith carved out one more big chance before the break when Scott Brown found himself in space on the edge of the box, with his ranged strike forcing a fine save from Ryan Fulton to dive to his left to claw it behind.
HT: Raith Rovers 0-1 Heart of Midlothian
Just minutes into the restart, Raith Rovers had their equaliser. Lewis Jamieson found himself with space at the back post and hoovered up the cross from the left before sending a dipping effort beyond the reach of Ryan Fulton.
Some good goalkeeping was required from Fulton moments later as he did well to tip a vicious snapshot from Callum Smith over the bar, with Rovers not quite able to fashion a second bite from the resulting corner.
More fine goalkeeping from Ryan Fulton was seen in the 75th minute as he made a fantastic reaction save from the corner as Paul Hanlon looked to steer the ball into the bottom corner.
Raith kept knocking on the door of a more youthful Hearts side, with changes made throughout the half, with Kieran Freeman sending a tidy ball across the face of goal that just sneaked past any takers in a Raith jersey.
Hearts had their moments too, and Callum Sandilands displayed a killer instinct seven minutes from time; pouncing on a slack pass to drive at goal. He lifted the ball towards an oncoming Jorge Grant, but McNeil in the Raith goal was able to parry.
The Fife side netted the winner moments later as Jack Hamilton leapt highest to send a thumping header beyond Fulton, courtesy of a Dylan Easton corner.
And the provider turned scorer with three minutes to go as he slotted low to wrap up the match.
Raith Rovers: McNeil, Dick, Fordyce (Hanlon 60’), Matthews (Byrne 55’), Smith (Hamilton 60’), Mullin (Montagu 43’), Gibson (Connolly 71’), Dabo (Freeman 71’), Brown (Stevenson 60’), Jamieson (Easton 71’), Hannah (Nicholson 88’)
Subs: Thomson, Freeman, Hanlon, Connolly, Hamilton, Byrne, Easton, Montagu, Stevenson, Nicholson
Hearts: Fulton, Forrester (Gillies 69’), Penrice (James 54’), Halkett, Smutek, Tait (Boateng 54’), Oda (McLuckie 60’), Spittal (Sandilands 45’), Boyce (Stevenson 76’), Dhanda (Forrest 54’), McKay (Grant 45’)
Subs: Lyon, Grant, Forrest, McLuckie, Sandilands, Boateng, Stevenson, Gillies, James, Baningime
