26th July 2022 The Spartans 1 Hearts B 0
A first for me today watching Hearts B in action in the Lowland League. There has been no reserve league in Scottish football since the Covid pandemic started in 2020. Reserve or B sides have been restricted to playing friendly matches with players also being sent on loan to lower league clubs to gain experience. Last season both Rangers and Celtic B sides were permitted, after a vote by member clubs, to play in the Lowland League, Scotlands fifth tier. Neither of the B sides could be promoted and both clubs had to pay £40k to the League as an entry fee. Both sides ended the season in the top three of the table behind League winners Bonnyrigg Rose. This season Hearts also applied to join the eighteen club League. Again after a vote among the clubs Hearts were voted in increasing the number of clubs to nineteen meaning each week a club will have a free match day. Again the B sides have had to pay £40k to the League and restrictions have been placed on both the age and first team experience of players permitted to play for the B teams. Despite Hearts being now in the Lowland League I am not sure if the correct decision has been made by the League. The Scottish pyramid now has eight tiers with many ambitious clubs looking to progress up the leagues. While the B sides cannot be promoted they could still stop other sides progressing depending on results. In my view B sides should have been entered in the lowest tier and, if successful, be allowed to move up although no further than tier five to prevent the B sides from playing in the SPFL.
Enough of my rant hover. I had done quite a bit of walking today so decided to catch a bus to Ainslie Park. I walked to Tollcross to get on a 27 due at 18.21. As I reached the stop at 18.15 the first bus to arrive was a 27! I took that bus but as I was early got off at Wardie Road and walked along the railway path to Ainslie Park. After showing my season ticket for entry I purchased my £2 programme. I then went up to the cafe bar and spoke to the Spartans announcer Stuart for a few minutes. I went into the bar and got a coffee and a sausage roll before sitting down to chat to Ian and David. We all managed to get team sheets which were being handed out in the bar. Around ten minutes from the kickoff I headed down to the pitch and took a seat in the stand.
Hearts had beaten Berwick Rangers 6-0 in their first Lowland league match on Saturday and fielded an unchanged side. Several players in the side had appeared in the Hearts first team, Harry Stone, Aaron Darge, Aiden Denholm, Connor Smith and Mackenzie Kirk. Kirk and Thomas had made short substitute appearance last season while Stone and Darge had only appeared in friendlies. Stone however has been on loan at Edinburgh City and Patrick where he played first team football. He also had a short spell on loan at Spartans. For Spartans it was surprising that both Jamie Dishington and Blair Henderson started on the bech with Sean Brown and Jamie Penker starting upfront. Spartans have built a strong squad for this season although both Scott Maxwell and Rhys Armstrong were missing tonight due to suspensions carried forward from last season.
Hearts almost lost an early goal when Harry Gordon lost the ball to Spartans Gregor Woods after failing to control a kick-out from keeper Stone. The Spartans midfielder broke down the left but hesitated before crossing into the goalmouth enabling the Hearts defence to clear. Smith then had long ran free-kick saved by Blair Carswell before a pass from Macaulay Tait sent Jaden Ferguson into the penalty box. He was thwarted by some good defending from Jordan Tapping. Michael Allan hit a volley past Stone’s post after Brown headed a free-kick down to him. Spartans took the lead in twenty-six minutes. Allan broke down the left and was challenged by Hearts Luke Rathie. The referee judged the challenge to be a foul and awarded a free kick to Spartans wide left about ten yards from the byeline. Woods floated the free-kick towards the far post where a crowd of players were awaiting. I thought the final headed touch came from Spartans Brown but there was a deflection of Bailey Dall and the Spartans went ahead with an own goal. From then until halftime the game was mainly played in midfield with neither side able to create any clear chances.
Hearts came out for the second half looking for an equaliser but did not have a shot at goal until the hour mark. Bobby McLuckie cut in from the left but his shot was tipped over the bar by car swell. Tait then sent a long pass to Thomas on the right. He headed towards the byeline and cut the ball back to Denholm about eight yards from goal at the near post. His attempt as blocked by the Spartans defence. Spartans then had a chance when Allan, again, broke down the left and crossed towards Brown in the centre of goal. The striker failed to control the ball cleanly and his attempt went past the post. Smith had couple of free-kicks for Hearts from outside the penalty box, the first was comfortably held by Carswell while the second was blocked by the defensive wall. As the game moved into injury time Carswell made an excellent save to prevent Hearts equalising. Spartans had bought on Calum Burns to bolster their defence But the defender appeared to loose his bearings as he ent to head clear a cross into the box. His header was heading for the top corner of the patrons net before Carswell managed to tip the ball over the bar. Carswell then blocked a Smith effort as his near post before the referee blew the final whistle.
On the final whistle I headed out of the ground and walked along the railway path to Crewe Toll where no buses were due for about fifteen minutes. However I turned back to Ferry Road and caught a 27 after a three minute wait. I was thinking about the game on the bus home and thought Hearts probably deserved a draw. However the game was a good workout and experience for the young side against one of the top sides in the Lowland League. I was particularly impressed by captain Darge and midfielders Smith and Denholm. I got of the bus at Leamington Terrace and walked home arriving around 22.30 after an enjoyable game in front of a crowd of 660.
Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Allan, Waugh, Tapping, Woods, Jones, McFarland, Brown, Penker, Whyte.
Hearts: Stone, Darge, Rathie, Gordon, McLuckie, Thomas, Tait, Denholm, Dall, Ferguson, Smith
Subs: Kirk,Sandilands.
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