Hearts “B” v Broxburn Athletic

Report

Attendance 250

Broxburn Athletic–Watt (GK), Rodden, G Page, J Page, Bell, Wardell, Jones, Douglas ©, Smith, McLeod Kay, McRory Irving

SUBS- Pettigrew (GK), Mwangi, Brass, Thomson, Ellis, Millar, Locke

Broxburn return to league action with a Friday night trip into the capital, to play Hearts B at Ainslie Park.

Season 2024/25 has been a season of change for the Heart of Midlothian B team. Ex gaffer Liam Fox and assistant Lee Wallace joined new first team gaffer Neil Critchley’s coaching team when he joined the club in October. Ex Hearts youth player Angus Beith was appointed as head coach on Thursday afternoon.  Hearts B currently lie in thirteen position in the Lowland league. Winning four, drawing four and losing eight of their sixteen fixtures so far. The clubs top goal scorer is McKenzie Ross with 8 goals. Players to look out for on Friday night is Hearts legend and 2012 Scottish cup winner Jamie McDonald in goals, recent Edinburgh derby hero James Wilson and wingers Bobby McLuckie and Finlay Pollock who both have huge futures in the game. In the clubs last match, they drew in league action with Cowdenbeath 0-0 in league action on Friday the 8^th of November.

Hearts B Last Four Games

(19/10/24) East Kilbride (A) 4-1 (L)

(29/10/24) Celtic B (H) 1-2 (L)

(2/11/24) Albion Rovers (A) 3-0 (L)

(8/11/24) Cowdenbeath (H) 0-0 (D)

Broxburn Athletic were in their changed kits. Gold and black shirts, black shorts and gold and black socks. Hearts B were in all maroon kits.  Broxburn Athletic make two changes to the team that lost 4-0 to Clydebank last weekend in the South Challenge Cup fourth round. In comes Joseph Smith and Fionn McLeod Kay who replace Gary Brass and Marky Munro.

Broxburn start the game the better of the two sides with a lot of the ball in the first five minutes. But it’s Hearts B who create the first chance on the 6^th minute. McKenzie Ross had a shot from close range saved down low by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt.

Broxburn create a half chance on 7 minutes. Scott McRory Irving plays in Alassan Jones on the right. Jones drives into the box, but his shot hits the Hearts defender and hits back of Jones for a goal kick. On 9 minutes, Fionn McLeod Kay feeds in Alassan Jones on the right. Jones plays in Owen Wardell, but his ball picks up speed on the slippy surface and rolls out for a goal kick.

GOAL! Hearts B take the lead. Dom Plank charges down the left wing before finding Skipper Callum Sandilands in an advanced position. It’s eventually worked to McKenzie Ross who finishes past Bob Watt for the opening goal.

HEARTS B 1 (Ross-14 Minutes)

BROXBURN ATHLETIC 0

On 28 minutes, a cross from Owen Wardell finds Errol Douglas whose header doesn’t have the power required and Hearts clear their lines.

First booking of the night came for Broxburn’s Kyle Bell for a foul on Macauley Tait on 32 minutes.

On 35 minutes, Joseph Smith does excellent to win the ball from the Hearts left winger. But his pass to Jonathan Page puts the veteran Broxburn defender under pressure. McKenzie Ross capitalises, and his shot is saved by Bob Watt.

Next in the book is Hearts B goal scorer McKenzie Ross on 35 minutes, for kicking the ball out of the hands of Bob watt who had just slid of his line to collect a dangerous Hearts move.

Hearts B brake forward with pace. Dom Plank crosses for McKenzie Ross whose shot is saved by Broxburn keeper Bob Watt.

Big chance for a Broxburn equaliser right on 45 minutes. An Owen Wardell cross from the right finds Greg page who heads wide of target.

HALF TIME (1-0 Hearts B)

On 54 minutes, a Scott McRory Irving cross finds Fionn McLeod Kay whose bullet header is going into to the top corner, but Hearts captain Callum Sandilands clears of the line. The move ends with Owen Wardell shooting over the bar. On 59 minutes, we have another huge Broxburn chance. An Alassan Jones cross finds Errol Douglas whose header looks like it’s finding the top corner, but experienced Hearts B keeper Jamie McDonald makes a fantastic save and pushes it over the bar.

On 62 minutes, A Jones cross from the left find Errol Douglas again but this time he heads wide of target.

Broxburn coach Derek McWilliams is booked by referee Hogarth, after protests from the referee taking no action with Hearts defender Kai Smutek who in quick succession went through the back of Owen Wardell then pushed Kyle Bell by the face.

Great play by Joeseph Smith who flies down the left before crossing for Errol Douglas whose shot is saved by McDonald.

BROXBURN DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (72 Minutes)

ON-Gary Brass & Nick Locke

OFF- Fionn McLeod Kay & Alassan Jones

Big chance for Broxburn on 80 minutes.  Nick Locke is through on goal and his shot produces another excellent save by Hearts B keeper Jamie McDonald, who tips the shot wide.

Next in the book is Hearts right back Lucas Smith for a foul on Nick Locke on 82 minutes.

SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (84 Minutes)

ON-Bryan Mwangi

OFF-Jonathan Page

SUBSTITUTION BROXBURN (88 Minutes)

ON-Ruari Ellis

OFF-Joseph Smith

On 89 minutes, a Scott McRory Irving shot is over the bar. On 90 minutes, Broxburn are throwing everything at getting an equaliser. But Hearts nearly get a second on the break. Bob Watt comes of his line to win the slide tackle and the ball falls for Tait  whose chip is cleared of the line by Broxburn Defender Greg Page.

It ends 1-0 at Ainslie Park, but a lot of positives to take going into next weeks big Scottish Cup tie away to Stranraer. Joseph Smith and Fionn McLeod Kay both had good games. 

FULL TIME

Hearts B 1

Broxburn Athletic 0

MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE- Ross Birrell

ASSISTANTS- Andrew Brown , Blair McAlpine

Hearts B – McDonald (GK), Smith, Nair, Smutek, Stevenson, Duncan, Sandilands ©, Plank, Gilles, Ross, Tait

Subs- Lyon (GK), McLuckie, Crookston, James, Robb

NEXT GAME

Saturday the 30^th of November

Scottish Cup Third Round

Stranraer (Away)

Stair Park

3pm