8th April 2019. Hearts reserves v Falkirk reserves. 1-3

After the Derby result on Saturday I needed a pick-me-up so headed out to the Oriam for this Reserve League match. I caught a 35 bus which was due to arrive at the Oriam around 13.35 in time for the 14.00 kickoff. However it arrived about 13.20 so rather than go straight in I decide to go for a walk to keep warm. Malcolm had also said he was going to come along and as I started walking Anne dropped him off. We walked for about ten minutes and then headed towards the park. The only gate open was the players entrance as the normal spectators gate was still locked. We took our seats in the small stand near the entrance. On looking around there were a number of football personalities in the crowd. In addition to Hearts normal reserve team coaching duo of Andy Kirk and John Rankin further club representation was there in the shape of Craig Levein, Gary Locke, Jon Daly and Jake Mulraney. Additionally I spotted John McGinn and Paul Smith of Raith Rovers, Brian Rice of Hamilton and former Hearts player, and later a coach at several clubs, Donald Park.

Hearts fielded the bulk of the side who had lifted the Reserve League Cup last week. It was interesting that both Aidan Keena and. Craig Wighton who had been on the bench against Hibs on Saturday were both playing.  Maybe this was a trial to see who would play as the co-striker with Uche Ikpeazu in the semi-Final against Inverness on Saturday. Falkirk included Davis Keillor-Dunn who is currently on loan at the club from Ross County.

If this was a trial for the co-striker role, Keena certainly took the early plaudits when he ran onto a through ball from Andy Irving and despite the attentions of a Falkirk defender shot low past Leo Fasan to give Hearts the lead. Hearts looked in the early stages that they would run away with the game. Harry Cochrane was his usual composed elf in midfield and Andy Irving was spraying some good passes forward. Ryan Edwards was the attacking component in the midfield trio and made good runs both down the left and into the box. Calumn Morrison was also making some good runs down the right linking well with Cameron Logan. About ten minutes from halftime Morrison beat full back Tom Robson and crossed low into the penalty box. Keena tried to connect about eight yards out but his control let him down and the ball went past the post. Wighton had also been trying to impress and looked good on the ball with some positive runs forward although his finishing was not up to the standard of the rest of his play. He has looked better in recent first team appearances than when he initially signed for the club and I think he needs a goal to boost his confidence and allow him to show why Hearts bought him from Dundee. The only sour note for Hearts in the first half was a booking for skipper Chris Hamilton for a bad challenge on Ross MacLean of Falkirk. Falkirk however were not entirely out of the game and had two clear chances with headers. Unfortunately for Falkirk on each occassion the ball went direct to Kelby Mason in the Hearts goal who made comfortable saves. Just before halftime Hearts forced a corner which Andy Irving took. The ball hit a defender standing about five yards from the ball. His clearance but Falkirk on the attack and only a foul by Logan on the halfway line stopped a breakaway. Irving protested to the assistant referee that the defender had not been back the requisite ten yards and received the reply "well you took the kick".

The second half began as the first with Keena having an early chance as he ran through on goal. However on this occasion he was unable to connect cleanly and his shot flew over the bar. Just after the hour mark Falkirk's Ross MacLean hit a corner to the near post. The ball was flicked on by centre-forward Shayne Lavery to centre-back Scott Reekie. From six yards out he shot high into the net for an equaliser. The second ball also came from a corner this time taken by Lewis Kidd after seventy-two minutes. The ball found its way over the Hearts defence to Reekie at the far post where he shot home for his second goal of the game. Both these goals were down to poor defensive play from Hearts who were unable to deal with ball coming in from the corners. Five minutes later a long ball over the top of the Hearts defence found Lavery racing through and he shot past the advancing Mason to clinch the game. While Hearts kept trying to get back into the game they were unable to create any clear chances and Falkirk ended 3-1 winners.

We walked down to The Avenue after the game and caught a 35 bus back into town. Malcolm got off to do some shopping for Anne while I continued home arriving around about 16.30 after yet another disappointing Hearts game. 

Teams

Hearts: Mason, Logan, Hickey, Hamilton, Petkov, Irving, Morrison, Cochrane, Keena, Wighton, Edwards

Subs: Henderson, Baur

Falkirk: Fasan, Diakite, Robson, Reekie, Brough, Kidd, MacLean, Jarvis, Lavery, Keillor-Dunn, O'Hara

Subs: Mitchell, Langan