Hibernian (U18s) 4-2 Hearts (U18s)

Hibernian (U18s) 4-2 Hearts (U18s)

CAS Development League

Friday 27th January 2023

This Friday night Edinburgh Derby ended in delight for the young Hibees thanks to goals from Jamie Bulloch (2), Dean Clelland and Rudi Molotnikov.

In a game of two contrasting styles, Hearts definitely played the better football and scored the goal of the night through Callum Sandilands (unbelievable finish) whilst Callum Hambrook headed one in at the end, but it was Hibernian - more direct and physical by comparison, who accomplished the all-important task of putting the ball in the net more often and being ruthless when it mattered.

Having come out on top in the last Edinburgh Derby, Hibs probably went into this game as favourites and after a decent start in which they pushed forward and imposed themselves, they took the lead thanks to Clelland’s great curling strike from the edge of the box.

Nevertheless, as the half progressed, Hearts came out of their shell a bit, showed some confidence, got the ball down and posed a few questions.

From the opening goal up to half-time, the Jambos were just about the better team and in the first of a series of ‘bits and pieces’ that were conjured up infront of goal, Kai Smutek saw a downwards header bounce wide from Ryan Duncan’s cross, then Hambrook forced a routine save from the Hibs ‘keeper with a speculative low drive from about a minute or two later, and closer to half-time, Duncan forced a save from a 25-yard free-kick.

But the best opportunity to level fell to Sandilands just a couple of minutes before the break because he brought the ball down brilliantly inside the box thanks to some great individual technique and unleashed an instinctive and stunning volley which looked as though it was about to fly into the net, only for Freddie Owens to dive from absolutely nowhere and pull off a top quality save. It was superb goalkeeping because he had no right to make that save - and it ensured that Hibs remained 1-0 up at the midway point.

What Hearts didn’t need next was to concede a second goal but that’s precisely what happened because roughly five minutes after the re-start, Bulloch found the top corner with a powerful and accurate long-range drive that was very similar to Clelland’s earlier opener.

To their credit, the youngsters in maroon didn’t cave in at 2-0 down and gave it everything in their search to break between the lines and halve the deficit.

Duncan and Hambrook both had attempts blocked in the same attack as Hibs doggedly defended their own box, James Wilson tried his luck with a curling 20-yard strike which flew narrowly over, and when the goal that Hearts craved finally did arrive on 68 minutes, it was one that would have had any commentator screaming down the microphone with what they’d just witnessed.

Showing exactly the same technique as he did for his chance in the first period, Sandilands again brought the ball under control inside the box with his chest - this time after Rocco Friel lofted it in to him, and it was followed by a lightning-quick volley which he smashed emphatically into the net. 

Absolutely ‘wow’ and whoosh… the Jambos were now right back in the game!

Sadly, from a Hearts perspective, the goal proved to be meaningless in the context of the outcome because just a few minutes later, Zach Paris had a moment to forget down at the other end when Molotnikov’s shot slipped through his grasp and ended up in the back of the net - and, although that was disappointing, the game was quickly put to bed as Bulloch was allowed a free header from a corner and duly converted to put Hibs into a 4-1 lead.

The scoreline at this stage wasn’t reflective of the game itself because it had been a close contest but amidst a series of substitutions in the latter stages, Hearts salvaged some pride and pulled another goal back when Kenzi Nair did excellently to recycle the ball from a corner and provide a great cross which Hambrook headed in with Friel in close proximity.

Friel could have also had a goal to his name because he struck the upright right at the end of about five minutes of injury-time - and if that had gone in, the last three seconds might have been a bit nervous because that was, literally, all that was left to play!

Overall, it was quite an absorbing game to watch because there was a really good competitiveness about it. There were bits of needle - one of a few examples being when Gus Stevenson took a ball square in the face at full pelt from about three yards and things nearly escalated. There were yellow cards. There were good individual battles going on - particularly James Wilson and Ricky Waugh who were involved in a scrap all night. The game had a good intensity at times and you could tell it meant something because the determination to win (and do everything to win) stood out a mile from both sets of players. It certainly wasn’t just ‘going through the motions of academy football’ or anything as can sometimes be the case, and the Hearts boys will have learned a lot from this game.

Had Freddie Owens not saved from Callum Sandilands in the first half, or had Zach Paris not made the error which resulted in Hibs’ third goal (which happens sometimes even to the best of ‘keepers), who knows what the scoreline might have ended up? They were two big moments which went in Hibs’ favour when the game was right in the balance. 

And whilst the Hibees were physical, often direct and very good at what they do as a team (fair play to them), their trait which stood out most was just how ruthless and clinical they were because when their frontmen had the ball in a dangerous position, if they sniffed the chance for a shot, they were having a pop at goal. It was as simple as that and sometimes that’s how you win a game - this being one of those occasions!

The scoreline aside, there were players on both teams who made a good impression. 

Dean Clelland was impressive from an early stage and certainly one of Hibernian’s best players. He looked purposeful and intelligent with his runs (including one where he was just flagged offside not long after his opener), he was quick, sharp, lively and decent with the ball into his feet and created a really good impression up until his yellow card just before half-time, after which the Hibees other front players showed their quality - especially the No.11 (Jamie Bulloch) who got two goals and put in a good shift that he’ll be buzzing about.

And the whole of the Hibs defence deserves a mention with how they dealt with Hearts’ threat. There was lots of focus and organisation that was very apparent. The centre-backs were strong when they needed to be. Ricky Waugh was very combative on the left-hand side and Freddie Owens pulled off that fantastic save just before half-time which I’m sure will be going in his clips because it was such a good stop.

In the Hearts team, Callum Sanidlands will be proud of his goal because the technique and execution was so good - and it’s genuinely the best goal I’ve seen anywhere so far this year; not bad considering I’ve been in Milan, Rome and Naples recently!

Those types of goals are certainly the ones that people remember and what a pleasure to be there to witness it ‘live’ because it made the whole ‘San Siro to Sandilands’ journey over the past week feel really worthwhile. Good players produce good quality and what a hit son!

Elsewhere in the Hearts line-up, Callum Hambrook tried to make something happen all night long and deserved his goal near the end for his work-rate and persistence alone. Rocco Friel made a decent contribution with an assist and hitting the crossbar (along with playing a part in the second goal). Jamie Anderson showed some tidy things on the left flank and Gus Stevenson (nearly ko’d at one point when he got the ball square in the face on the edge of the Hibees box) offered bits and pieces of good individual skill - including a superb bit of play in injury-time where he turned well with the ball to open up space and give himself options. That kind of thing doesn’t go unnoticed. Meanwhile, Ryan Duncan (who has shaved off his little goatee since I saw him dominate the game at Haddington in the Youth Cup) got on the ball quite a bit, moved it well and tried to drive with it a few times. He was sometimes a little deep, but having seen him a few times now, I’ve got no doubts about his qualities but the credit in this game has to go to the Hibs players for limiting his impact and keeping him largely quiet.

The one player in the Hearts team who seriously impressed me was Kenzi Nair because he showed plenty of good qualities. From his positioning, anticipation and reading of situations (all very evident inside the first 30 minutes), to how comfortable he looked stepping out of defence with the ball, to his distribution - long or short, to his vocal presence and leadership qualities (picked up on that in the second half), it was all good. He’d already created a solid impression before he recycled the ball very cleverly from a corner (rather than just blasting it over the bar as quite a lot of players would) for Callum Hambrook to score his late goal.

Long may that continue because it was good to watch and I really enjoyed seeing it, just like I really enjoyed this game and learning (more in some cases) about the players on show.

Hibernian: Freddie Owens, Harry Wright, Ricky Waugh, Adam Khan, Owen Hastie, Jake McIntyre, Dean Clelland, Reuben McCallister, Jay McGarva, Rudi Molotnikov, Jamie Bulloch. Subs: Rory Whittaker, Jason Craig, Gregor Fordyce, Niall Geaney, Alfie Smith, Josh Landers, Smith Samuels.

Hearts: Zach Paris, Rocco Friel, Jamie Anderson, Kai Smutek, Callum Hambrook, Harvey Chisholm, Callum Sandilands, James Wilson, Gus Stevenson, Kenzi Nair, Ryan Duncan. Subs: Coupar Wilkie, Matt Gillies, Gregor Crookston, Mackenzie Ross, Taylor Hogarth, Gregor Burn, Owen Muirhead.