21st July 2019. Tynecastle v Hearts XI 1-1
A quiet Sunday afternoon and nothing much on TV as I could not be bothered watching the golf. A Hearts XI were playing Tynecastle at Meggetland to celebrate the launch of the new Tynecastle strip so i decided to head out for the match. Other than Tynecastle, Meggetland is the closest football ground to my home and I had a pleasant twenty minute walk along the canal to the ground. I paid my £6 admission, although there was no programme or team sheets available. However Tynecastle now publish their team line-ups on Twitter and I was able to obtain the line-up from that source. Tynecastle share Meggetland with Boroughmuir Rugby Club and the facilities are of a high standard with the ground being one of the better facilities for fans in the East of Scotland. The pictures above show the view from the main stand. There are standing areas behind the goal to the right and also directly opposite the main stand.
Tynecasyle, under the management of former Hearts player Calum Elliot, had a disappointing time in the East of Scotland League in the East of Scotland League last season and were unable to finish high enough to compete in this years new look Premier division. However they have made a number of shrewd signings including Jordan Hopkinson, formerly with Civil Service Strollers, and keeper Murray Jackson who has been with a number of clubs in the East of Scotland. Tynecastle should now be looking to challenge near the top of the lower division this season. Hearts fielded a strongish side with Chris Hamilton, Cammy Logan, Rory Currie, Lewis Moore and Euan Henderson all having first team experience, albeit limited. Several of this years newly signed professionals also figured in the squad.
The first half was not the best of games although Hearts had the bulk of the possession and looked good going forward until the ball arrived in the penalty box. Hearts lost winger Ryan Schiavone to an ankle injury in twenty minutes and he was replaced by Jay Charleston-King. The closest Tynecastle keeper Jackson came to conceding a goal was when Euan Henderson rushed in to attempt to charge down his attempted clearance. The keeper sliced his clearance which went out for a throw-in. Lewis Moore also had a chance after a run from midfield but fired the ball high over the bar from just outside the penalty box. Just before halftime Tynecastle went close when cross from the right was flicked on by Smith on the edge of the six yard box. Kevin Silva dived across to push the ball away which fell to Hopkinson at the far post. He shot the ball high into the net but was rightly ruled offside.
The second half continued much as the first but Hearts were now getting the ball into the penalty box. After fifty-five minutes Currie passed to overlapping substitute full-back Watson from the edge of the Tynecastle area. The ball looked like a bit of a 'hospital pass' as the Tynecastlle full-back raced across to tackle. However Watson hit a good low cross into the area before he was taken out. The ball travelled across the box to Aidan Denholm about twelve yards out on the right hand side of the goal. He took a touch and then shot past Jackson to put Hearts ahead. Hearts fashioned another chance when the ball came to full-back Logan just inside the Tynecastle box but he shot past the post. Logan then turned provider with a good low cross towards the near post which Currie turned past the post from the edge of the six yard box. He may have been better leaving the ball to Henderson who was unmarked in the centre of the goal. As both sides began to bring on substitutes the game changed and Tynecastle became more dangerous going forward. They equalised after seventy-five minutes when a pass found Smith on the right hand side of the box and he passed to substitute Taylor Hendry on the left hand side of the penalty box. He controlled the ball and shot past Silva from around fifteen yards for the equaliser. As the game meandered to a close there was an incident in injury time. Hamilton went in hard on a challenge on Barfoot although the foul was awarded to Hearts. The free kick was played short to Hamilton and Smith dived in with a reckless tackle, probably revenge for the previous challenge on his team-mate. Hamilton got up and told Smith what he thought about the challenge and it looked as if the incident may have escalated before the referee stepped in. He yellow-carded both Hamilton and Smith, while in a competitive match both might have received a red card. As soon as the free kick was taken he he blew the whistle for full time. All in all not a bad game and I was impressed by Dean Ritchie in midfield. He played a defensive midfield role but was not afraid to go forward and showed a good range of passing.
I walked home along the canal in sunshine in twenty minutes.
TeamsThe first half was not the best of games although Hearts had the bulk of the possession and looked good going forward until the ball arrived in the penalty box. Hearts lost winger Ryan Schiavone to an ankle injury in twenty minutes and he was replaced by Jay Charleston-King. The closest Tynecastle keeper Jackson came to conceding a goal was when Euan Henderson rushed in to attempt to charge down his attempted clearance. The keeper sliced his clearance which went out for a throw-in. Lewis Moore also had a chance after a run from midfield but fired the ball high over the bar from just outside the penalty box. Just before halftime Tynecastle went close when cross from the right was flicked on by Smith on the edge of the six yard box. Kevin Silva dived across to push the ball away which fell to Hopkinson at the far post. He shot the ball high into the net but was rightly ruled offside.
The second half continued much as the first but Hearts were now getting the ball into the penalty box. After fifty-five minutes Currie passed to overlapping substitute full-back Watson from the edge of the Tynecastle area. The ball looked like a bit of a 'hospital pass' as the Tynecastlle full-back raced across to tackle. However Watson hit a good low cross into the area before he was taken out. The ball travelled across the box to Aidan Denholm about twelve yards out on the right hand side of the goal. He took a touch and then shot past Jackson to put Hearts ahead. Hearts fashioned another chance when the ball came to full-back Logan just inside the Tynecastle box but he shot past the post. Logan then turned provider with a good low cross towards the near post which Currie turned past the post from the edge of the six yard box. He may have been better leaving the ball to Henderson who was unmarked in the centre of the goal. As both sides began to bring on substitutes the game changed and Tynecastle became more dangerous going forward. They equalised after seventy-five minutes when a pass found Smith on the right hand side of the box and he passed to substitute Taylor Hendry on the left hand side of the penalty box. He controlled the ball and shot past Silva from around fifteen yards for the equaliser. As the game meandered to a close there was an incident in injury time. Hamilton went in hard on a challenge on Barfoot although the foul was awarded to Hearts. The free kick was played short to Hamilton and Smith dived in with a reckless tackle, probably revenge for the previous challenge on his team-mate. Hamilton got up and told Smith what he thought about the challenge and it looked as if the incident may have escalated before the referee stepped in. He yellow-carded both Hamilton and Smith, while in a competitive match both might have received a red card. As soon as the free kick was taken he he blew the whistle for full time. All in all not a bad game and I was impressed by Dean Ritchie in midfield. He played a defensive midfield role but was not afraid to go forward and showed a good range of passing.
I walked home along the canal in sunshine in twenty minutes.
Tynecastle: Jackson, Stevenson, Greig, Langdale, Trialist, Milligan, O'Brien, Grant, Jordan Smith, Barfoot, Hopkinson.
Subs: Leslie, Moffat, Hendry, Jack Smith, Combe, Andrew, Watson
Hearts: Silva; Logan, Ward, Darge, Ritchie, Hamilton, Schiavone, Denholm, Currie, Moore, Henderson.
Subs: Charleston-King, Doherty, McGill, Trialist
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