Brechin City 2-2 Hearts B

Brechin City 2-2 Hearts B

SPFL Trust Trophy

Tuesday 1st August 2023

Although it wasn’t to be for them, the Wee Jambos can go away from this game with their heads held high after a stirring comeback got them to within a whisker of beating Brechin City.

In a game which had ever so slight shades of England vs Argentina at the ‘98 World Cup (Beckham, Simeone, penalties, Michael Owen, et al), trailing 2-0 at half-time with the experience of the Highland League champions showing an awful lot - and a man down too after Luke Rathie’s straight red card, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that the scoreline was only going to get worse for Hearts!

But the boys’ response throughout the second half was beyond phenomenal as they took the game to Brechin, refused to cave in and get battered, were aggressive, created several chances, got on top, even dominated in spells, hauled themselves back level thanks to quickfire goals by Mak Kirk and Rocco Friel (an absolute belter it was too) and could have even won the game before the final whistle was blown.

In the end, it went to penalties; someone has to be a hero or villain in these circumstances, and on this occasion it was Callum Sandilands who saw his effort saved. Brechin converted all five of their kicks and they progress into the next round where they’ll host either Hibernian B or Formartine United - the winner of that one to be decided tonight in a game which I might go to depending on just how much Scottish summertime rain we get!

Having not been to Glebe Park previously, this was a game I was really looking forward to. It was the perfect way for me to round off this trip to Scotland - and made even better by the fact it was against the Wee Jambos who I’ve really enjoyed watching over the last few weeks.

Hearts wore their new third kit for the game (better than the pink one that exists I must say) and attacked ‘down the slope’ during the first half, but despite an early Mak Kirk chance in the opening minute when he fired over from the edge of the area, it was Brechin who soon started to look by far the better team.

They’d already had a couple of openings and were beginning to get on top when with around a quarter-of-an-hour gone, a goal came. Defending set-plays, in my opinion, has been one of the B Team’s weaknesses in recent games and this is another that will have to be retrospectively analysed as Fraser MacLeod guided the ball home following Ewan Loudon’s corner.

Hearts were struggling to retain the ball at this point; sometimes they were going direct which didn’t really suit them at all - that meant turnovers in possession were frequent, Brechin were also picking up a lot of the second balls in open play and forcing the issue much better - turning that into territory and pressure as Hearts struggled to get out of their own half that often.

And around the half-hour mark came a massive moment in the cup tie as the Wee Jambos were reduced to 10 men. 

Luke Rathie and Ewan Loudon were involved in a 50-50 battle near to the touchline (pretty much next to where I was standing) and the No.18 used his arm for extra leverage to shield the ball which knocked Rathie off balance and sent him towards the advertising boards. The Brechin player knew exactly what he was doing (using his experience tellingly; it happens), but just as he was about to break away in possession, Rathie kicked out both in frustration and to also stop the potential of a quick break, catching his opponent in the midriff before a melee followed as players from both teams got involved.

The two crucial bits here is that Luke Rathie did kick out (that was blatant and seen by everyone) and, more importantly, the linesman was stood just a few yards away from the incident and had the perfect position as the whole thing unfold, so it wasn’t a surprise when the referee brandished a straight red card for violent conduct.

Certainly one for Luke to take on the chin, accept and learn from… and at this point, Hearts, already on the back foot, now faced the prospect of playing with 10 men for over an hour!

Low and behold, just a couple of minutes later, things went from bad to worse as Brechin got a second goal; breaking down their right which culminated in a low ball being played into the near-post where Grady McGrath made a connection (with his heel I think) to guide the ball into the net.

Now 2-0 behind and given the circumstances, I’ll probably be forgiven for admitting I was starting to fear the worst and wondering just how many goals Brechin might rack up!

Hearts got through to half-time with no further damage inflicted (a success in its own right with how the game was going) and whatever got said in the dressing room at the break worked, because the response in the second half - right from the first whistle all the way through to the last one, was absolutely superb.

The third goal in the game was always going to be crucial and straight away, despite the numerical disadvantage, Hearts went on the offensive to get that goal.

A golden chance quickly materialised when James Wilson laid it off to Mak Kirk inside the box and, desperate to bag against his old man’s team - and infront of his Grandad who was there watching the game too, he was denied by the ‘keeper. Unlucky!

The pressure didn’t stop there because from the resulting corner, Kirky went even closer as a thunderous effort cannoned back off the crossbar after Bobby McLuckie’s excellent corner found him and then, just a couple of minutes later, Kirk went close yet again; forcing another save, then nearly rounding the ‘keeper to a tight angle where he was denied once more before Callum Sandilands’ follow-up from about eight yards was somehow blocked by a sea of bodies on the Brechin goal-line.

Suddenly, Hearts were on top. Brechin were on the back-foot (and struggling) and although Liam McFarlane had to be at full-stretch and pull off a fingertip save just part the hour (top save because at 3-0 it would have been game over), the Wee Jambos also carved out a few other chances as Ethan Drysdale lashed one over from distance and James Wilson got a low shot on target which drew straightforward stop.

Hearts were soon dealt another blow when Callum Flatman went down and had to be substituted - thus Mak Kirk took the armband. Harvey Chisholm came on for him (and was excellent from his introduction) and it meant another reshuffle at the back as there had previously been one when Kai Smutek replaced Ethan Drysdale, which resulted in Kenzi Nair shuffling out to the left for a few minutes.

Still, the third goal in the game remained elusive, but soon enough one came and it re-ignited the cup tie because it was for the Wee Jambos!

A combination of Bobby McLuckie’s piercing through ball to Mak Kirk to release him and the Brechin ‘keeper rushing off his line into ‘no man’s land’ created it, because Jamie McCabe lost his foot race with Kirk, who skipped his challenge on the edge of the box, and he was then denied by a sliding block from Brechin’s No.6 (decent game) at a tight angle who handled the ball in the process. The referee spotted it, gave the penalty, Kirk sent the ‘keeper the wrong way and dispatched it well (absolutely no way he was going to miss that one with his dad watching) and suddenly it was game on!

The most impressive thing about Hearts at this point was that the boys looked so dominant. 

Any latecomers would have thought Brechin were down to 10 men; not Hearts. The boys looked fit, exceptionally sharp, the energy and enthusiasm was absolutely infectious, they’d seized the momentum and the initiative, and galvanised at having got one back within just a couple of minutes they were level - and oh my days, Rocco Friel, you take a bow my son!

I said a few weeks ago that it wouldn’t be long before Rocco bagged (could see it coming in the game at Broxburn) and his equaliser was a SCREAMER which would have had commentators raving and fans jumping off their sofas if the game was televised. It all came as the Wee Jambos broke on an attack down the left through Bobby McLuckie and with Rocco in acres of space for the right, pleading for the ball three or four times, he eventually received it and then looked up and with one unadulterated swing of his right boot, let fly with a fizzing and sizzling bullet of a strike straight into the top corner to make it 2-2.

It had power. It had accuracy. It was riveting. It was ruthless; A ROCKET FROM ROCCO. Bedlam in Brechin (just some of the phrases commentators might have used to describe it) - and now at this point, with about 10-15 minutes remaining, given how Hearts were dominating and the whole balance of the game had been completely tipped upside down in the most sensational of ways, you really fancied the Wee Jambos to go on and win it.

Brechin were shell-shocked and, incredibly, it could have soon been 3-2 with the turnaround almost completed altogether when Callum Sandilands was denied by the ‘keeper from a similar position to which he bagged against Gretna the other week. Agonising when the ‘keeper got something on it to keep it out! Agonising!

The lads were giving everything and the last 10 minutes were a pulsating watch as the pendulum swung back and forth. Brechin went close a couple of times; Liam McFarlane made a couple of big saves and their striker also missed a sitter following a cut-back to the edge of the six-yard box which he blazed over, but whenever Hearts went forward you felt they might score too.

It was absorbing to watch and even though there were a few lads cramping up, the energy of some players - in particular Callum Sandilands who was still bursting forward with electric pace deep into injury-time, was sensational.

In the end there were no more goals - and so it went to penalties!

Brechin scored their first effort; Mak Kirk converted Hearts opening spot-kick and then after the hosts made it 2-1, Callum Sandilands was denied. The hosts then converted the rest of their remaining kicks; Liam McFarlane not able to keep them out to emerge as 5-3 winners, to progress to Round Two.

A cruel, horrible way for the game to finish for the Wee Jambos, but a second half performance to feel really proud about because they were superb.

At half-time, it could have quite easily gone the other way and a weaker team with a weaker mentality and mindset may well have retreated into their shell and got a good hiding. That didn’t happen and all credit to Liam Fox for whatever he said at half-time and then the lads themselves for going out, being aggressive, applying themselves superbly, and giving everything to DESERVEDLY get back into the game with 10 men. It wasn’t a fluke that the lads pulled it back to 2-2; it was deserved and I can’t fault the second half performance whatsoever - it was so good, everyone on the pitch contributed towards it, and it wins respect far and wide from those who watched this game.

When you consider it was done with 10 men and without the two most experienced players that started the game in Luke Rathie and Callum Flatman, it speaks volumes about what these lads can produce when they’re at their best. There will be naysayers who say ‘Hearts are full-time, Brechin are part-time so the fitness should be better’ and that sort of thing (you get them in football), but by the same token Brechin won the Highland League last season and dropped only 13 points all term, they were absolutely in command at half-time, yet they’ll go away from this game knowing they got away with one and were given a very tough game, so all credit to the Hearts players!

There’s bits to learn; Luke Rathie will know it from the red card (one of them things which is done with now so no point dwelling on it for too long), the defending set-pieces as a whole is something where I still think there’s vulnerability (that could do with improvement), but yet again there were plenty of top contributions. To name everyone; Ryan Duncan covered so much ground and his work-rate was ridiculously good. Callum Sandilands; don’t dwell on the penalty - focus on the energy you showed, the darting runs, winning the ball deep, getting it going and making things happen (one particular instance which ended up with a chance right at the start of the second half. Keep doing that and you’ll come off the pitch feeling 10ft tall and dominate a game and it will happen soon! Rocco Friel’s Rocket - what a way to get off the mark for the season. Bobby McLuckie; two assists (in a roundabout way) and some really high quality link-up play and energy in the second half; tremendous. Do that consistently and you’ll shine brightly. Kenzi Nair, who gave absolutely everything in a few positions in the second half due to the reshuffles and was cramping up near the end. Liam McFarlane and some top saves which were paramount in getting to penalties and stopping Brechin getting the third goal or winner in normal time. James Wilson; lovely lay-off and link-up’s on the edge of the box. Ethan Drysdale who’ll only get better as he gets more game-time - and in a couple of months he’ll be flying in this team. Kai Smutek who was brilliant when he came on (really impressive) and defended excellently from his positioning to his interceptions (made a few), to reading the game - top class! Harvey Chisholm who got to grips with the game straight away when he came on and added his quality. Callum Flatman who led things well and was constantly talking in the second half before he went off (hope it's nothing serious). And Mak Kirk who, despite the result, will be able to give his dad some grief at having bagged against his team - and he was unlucky it was only the one goal in normal time too because it could have been more!

I’d have loved to have seen Mack Ross get on because I’ve loved watching him in the past few weeks and he’s got so much skill, quality and ability, and when it unlocks he’ll be an absolute gem of a player, but even in the dying minutes when penalties seemed more and more inevitable, it would have been harsh on anyone to come off and be replaced by him, because all the lads on the pitch were functioning so well and giving everything.

This was my last game watching the Wee Jambos (for now) but I do plan to get to a few more games over the course of the season. I’ve really enjoyed the past few weeks, I’ve learned so much and feel it’s been beneficial and there is some top quality talent at this club right now whether it be these lads, Bailey Dall (pleasure to watch and a very good start to the season), Aidan Denholm (can’t believe I’ve been to all these games recently and not seen him play - just my luck), Adam Forrester (who’ll be back soon), Harry Gordon (so good at doing the little bits and pieces), Murray Thomas (top lad in general) and then those in the Under 18s such as Matty Gillies (good lad, solid, just needs a haircut soon), Gus Stevenson (lots to look forward to in the weeks ahead) and various others. The list just goes on and on. 

So keep your heads up after the penalty disappointment, keep believing in yourselves, heads held high, remember you’re still unbeaten this season (just about) after eight games - including the pre-season ones, and it’s onto Saturday’s game at Albion Rovers.

Gutted I’m missing a trip to Cliftonhill but, like the terminator once said… I’ll be back!

Up the Wee Jambos!