1st April 2019. Hearts reserves v Motherwell reserves 2-0

Final of the Reserve Cup and surprisingly held at Tynecastle and not a neutral venue. Kick-off was at 19.00 so I  left the house at 18.30 and walked down to Tynecastle. Arrived around 18.45 and surprisingly had to queue to get in. I had bought my ticket in advance but turnstile could not read the barcode. I walked along to a security guard outside a doorway to the stand and he let me in after showing my ticket which saved me having to wait in a queue for a replacement. After the match attendance was announced as 1728 but actual attendance was higher as I was not the only one who had difficulty with the barcode scanners. I had bought Malcolm a ticket and he arrived just before kickoff. Like me his ticket could not be read by the scanner at the turnstile but he had been sent to join the queue at the ticket office for a replacement.

While team sheets were issued for this match by the time I arrived they had all gone. Hearts fielded a young side with only Callumn Morrison and Ryan Edwards having played more than thirty senior first team games. Edwards is an interesting case as he was signed from Patrick Thistle in the summer and immediately loaned out to St. Mirren. He returned to Hearts in January but has yet to play in the first team and this was the first time I have seen him in a Hearts Jersey. Motherwell fielded a young side and the only name I recognised was substitute Broque Watson who had a spell on loan at Spartans when he was with Celtic.

The game started off with Morrison looking dangerous on the right. After around five minutes he beat full-back Danny Devine and sent a low cross in the penalty area. Edwards rushed in but was only able to send the ball past the post as he stretched to connect. Shortly after Morrison burst into the penalty area and his shot was blocked by Motherwell keeper Rohan Ferguson at his near post. Hearts continued to look the better side. Andy Irving was prominent in midfield was his accurate passing and Harry Cochrane showed his skill on the ball in turning away from Motherwell players and finding other members of his side. Despite the midfield promptings Hearts were unable to make any clear chances. Shortly before halftime Motherwell's first shot at goal was blocked by Keilby Mason at his near post. Another shot by Jamie Semple went narrowly past the post before halftime. At halftime I saw one of my old bosses from work Robin was sitting behind us.We had a chat both about the football and also he updated me on the few ex-colleagues that are left still working.

Just after halftime Edwards cleared a Devine header from a corner of his own goal-line before Hearts took control. In fifty three minutes Lewis Moore showed great tenacity to win the ball from Liam Donnelly wide on the right hand side of the park. Moore then drove forward and passed inside to Rory Currie just outside the penalty box. The striker was unable to control the ball which then bounced off a Motherwell defender in the path of Moore who had continued his run into the box. From a difficult angle he shot across Ferguson into the far corner of the net to give Hearts the lead. Dario Zanatta replaced Currie on the hour mark as this proved to be an inspired substitution. Like Moore earlier Zanatta showed great strength to hold off Devine and then took off on a run down the left. He then sent a low ball across the penalty area about eight yards out for the onrushing Morrison who connected well and shot home the second goal. Hearts had a couple of chances after this with Alex Petkov coming close with a header from a corner before the referee blew the final whistle.

After the presentation Malcolm and I walked up Ardmillan Terrace happy with the result. We also chatted about next weeks football agenda and it looks like we will be going to Bonnyrigg v LTHV a week on Wednesday. Malcolm used to coach at Hutchison Vale so no guesses who he will be supporting. As Malcolm went to get a 34 bus home I walked home in time to take the dog for his last walk of the day.

Teams
Hearts: Mason, Logan, Hickey, Hamilton, Petkov, Irving, Morrison, Cochrane, Currie, Edwards, Moore.
Subs: Zanatta, C. Smith, Baur.
Motherwell: Ferguson, Donnelly, Livingston, Devine, Hussain, McAlear, Rehman, Cornelius, Johnson, McKinstry, Semple. 
Subs: Watson, MacDonald, Starrs.