East Stirling 1-1 Hearts B

East Stirling 1-1 Hearts B

Lowland League

Friday 29th September 2023

Another trip to watch the Hearts B Team albeit this performance wasn’t one that will fit into the ‘vintage’ category as the boys were held to a 1-1 draw at East Stirlingshire.

Since I last watched Hearts (away at Brechin in August - feels a long time ago), the lads have been in decent form in the Lowland League and established themselves near the top of the table with just one defeat so far in 11 games heading into this one - testament to the fact this is a good and genuine crop of lads with pretty decent attitudes (can always tell) who’ll always be prepared to roll their sleeves up, compete, and give things their best shot.

A win in this game would have seen the boys leapfrog East Kilbride and go back to the top of the table, and they couldn’t have made a better start as just six minutes in, Murray Thomas whipped in a cross having burst down the left and it was on a plate for Callum Sandilands who finished at the back-post.

Not the first quality player I’ve seen score in the sixth-minute this week… but fine play by Big Muz both to keep the ball in firstly (superb tenacity) and then deliver such a pinpoint cross. A good finish by Callum Sandilands (think that’s his sixth of the season), the usual piggyback celebration (loves one of those does Callum) and even better for his dad who got credited with the goal on East Stirling’s Twitter feed.

Sadly though, that positive start proved to be the highlight of the night for Hearts.

If they’d got a second goal then I feel the likelihood is that a few East Stirling heads would have dropped and it might have become ‘comfortable’ and the boys certainly had chances they were guilty of not putting away.

Firstly, Ryan Duncan beat the offside trap just after Callum’s opener (clever play; quality through ball - not certain by who but think it was from Mack Ross as he popped some decent ones about from that position) and although RD beat the ‘keeper with his effort, it was blocked by the cover defending. 

Then, just a few minutes afterwards, Harry Gordon skewed an effort wide from inside the area after some top footwork and trickery from Bailey Dall (what a lad) with the ball tight to his feet followed by a subsequent cut-back that was inviting - and later in the half there were further chances as Callum Sandilands slipped two delicious balls through. One found Big Muz who didn’t hit his shot first time, waited, and that just allowed the defender to get back and cover the angle, then another where Sandilands went to James Wilson who was fast, sharp, got up after being knocked over (probably should have stayed down and made the referee make a decision) and forced a stop.

But despite all Hearts’ ability in possession, pattern play, intelligence and capability (all of which was evident in little bits and pieces; just not fluid or flowing like I’ve seen in the past), from about 20 minutes onwards, East Stirling started to get back into things, get a bit of a foothold, and push for an equaliser.

Liam McFarlane had to deal with a few crosses from corners where the hosts looked a constant threat - and they rattled the bar from one after Hearts couldn’t clear their lines. In an open-play instance around the half-hour mark, one of their strikers nearly nipped in whilst McFarlane was waiting to collect, No.9 posed a threat and was in a physical battle with Luke Rathie (needly but interesting to watch), and a few minutes before half-time that persistence/pressure shown by East Stirling paid off as they broke down their right (Hearts left), No.9 slipped an inviting pass into the feet of Scott Honeyman inside the box who lashed it home quite emphatically with power.

So 1-1; the all-important second goal of the game had gone to the hosts (massively important) and now there was work to do in the second half.

If you’d have asked me at half-time then I’d have probably predicted there would be more goals as the first half (far from perfect) had been entertaining and open with some decent ideas. I thought there would be an improvement and from a Hearts perspective, enough chances had been created to give that belief.

Sadly, it didn’t transpire because the second half felt a bit flat. It definitely lacked in zip and intensity as it petered out into a 1-1 draw.

East Stirling had a couple of chances straight after the re-start as Liam McFarlane got fingertips on one effort to turn it over before another caught a wicked deflection inside the box (definitely one of those ‘Oh crap, where’s this ball going?’ heart-in-mouth instances) but it ultimately flew wide of the post.

Up at the other end, James Wilson was involved in another big moment as he used his pace excellently to beat his man and get into the box only to be denied again by the ‘keeper at the second attempt after he got up having initially been knocked over, Callum Sandilands was flagged offside (probably wrongly) in an instance when he was put through - albeit even if the flag hadn’t gone up, he was denied anyway, and when Matty Gillies came on, the ball sat up for him to have a pop from about 25 yards out and he smashed one wide. Can’t fault him for having a pop in that instance though!

As it got nearer towards full-time, East Stirling applied some more pressure and went close to winning it - one header from a cross went wide, they remained a threat at set-plays as well and that meant Liam McFarlane and the defence had to concentrate a lot, but ultimately there were no further goals.

Overall, the performance itself was disappointing from Hearts but the result means there is at least some reward for what was put in - and they didn’t get beat. That’s a positive!

The quality was evident in the players themselves but only in snippets. Not for 90 minutes and not cohesively. The speed of play at times was often slow, in a few areas the lads wanted too many touches rather than just instinctively doing stuff (where these boys thrive and can torment teams as they’ve done various times before), the intensity in the second half never felt as if it was there - and whether you use the word flat, leggy, tepid, disjointed or rusty, it’s probably an accurate description of some parts of the game. There were some good bits, neat and nice possession-based stuff, but much more needed to win convincingly - and having not played competitively in the Lowland League for three weeks, there was an element of rustiness present for sure for whatever reason.

A few players did do okay. Callum Sandilands (great finish by his dad for the opener) was energetic, a lot of the positive play which led to things up top involved him - and I’d love to see him used further/higher up the pitch because I know how much quality he can bring in attacking areas. Playing in a deeper role, he’s good and intelligent and his reading of the game (positioning) stood out in this one. But playing higher is where he’s even better, IMO, and absolutely thrives!

Likewise, Adam Forrester - not perfect (nobody was) but I felt he was one of the better players in a Hearts shirt and having not been able to watch him whilst I was up in pre-season doing all the games, it’s great to see him back playing and involved again. 

I thought Luke Rathie did okay (good tussle with the No.9 at times - loved watching that) and the way the game panned out, it was a test, but his physicality was strong and he always looks confident and usually solid.

Amongst some of the others, Kenzi Nair used his pace well to get out of trouble - especially with one early in the second half when he got goal-side in last-ditch style to block a shot (good defending as it looked like the odds were against him initially). Harry Gordon and Ryan Duncan weren’t bad - probably needed to be given the ball a bit more often but, again, the performance as a whole team wasn’t the greatest ever. Mack Ross hit some decent passes over distance to open things up. Good distribution; 2-3 in each half, and that was his best strength in this performance. 

Bailey Dall; gave the ball away a couple of times (it happens) but some excellent contributions high up the pitch in attacking situations - especially the one with his footwork where he wriggly, persistent, beat two men and set up Harry Gordon (definitely a bit of luck involved but love that). Two good crosses early on too; Dalldini at his finest and I don’t mind the fact he’s prepared to take people on. Also had a clever run where he could have been found for a shot, and a couple of bits defensively too, and I thought he was unlucky to be subbed. 

Murray Thomas got an assist (nice from you big man) and put in 1-2 other deliveries which were right on the money. James Wilson - flashes and snippets, good pace and enthusiasm and with a bit more know-how and experience (which will come over time) he’d have probably got a goal in this game. Liam McFarlane had more work to do than I’d have liked but whenever he was called upon, he pulled off saves and was a presence. A few worrying moments but alright on the whole and nothing he could have done about the goal.

And a little mention for Gus Stevenson; only on the pitch for a few minutes near the end but he seemed to give the team a bit of a lift and balance at that point and it was noticeable.

Plus, it was class to see another sub, Matty Gillies, get some minutes and come on in the CDM role and he’s earned the right to be in this team. A top lad, great character, got stuck and competed to win a few things, showed the physical aspects to his game - especially when an East Stirling striker just bounced off him at one point in injury-time and Matty is someone who deserves this ‘step up’ to the B Team for his second Lowland League appearance after doing well in the U18s so far this season, plus representing Scotland at age-group level. Always a pleasure to watch him, a decent lad with ability, good attitude (most important thing) and I’ve a lot of respect for what he’s all about and the more he plays, the better he’ll become over time!

If Mak Kirk had been involved (presumably he wasn’t due to the first team’s game at Notts County today) then I’d like to think with his predatory instincts around the box and proven track record for scoring goals, he’d have finished at least one of the chances created somewhere on the night but it wasn’t to be. 

I said in the summer that I wanted to watch more B Team games this season, so  I’ll be back up to watch a few coming up (Celtic, Berwick and Edinburgh University all for definite) so I’m looking forward to those.

Up the Hearts!

And well done again to Jamie Sandilands on his first goal of the season! Top finish for a goalkeeper, especially from 50 yards away!

Team: Liam McFarlane, Bailey Dall (Ethan Drysdale), James Wilson, Callum Sandilands, Murray Thomas (Bobby McLuckie), Harry Gordon (Matty Gillies), Kenzi Nair, Adam Forrester, Ryan Duncan, Luke Rathie (C), Mack Ross (Gus Stevenson). Unused Subs: Jack McConnell, Kai Smutek, Harvey Chisholm.