With the majority of the lads travelling up the previous night and just two catching the early train it was us that started off the livelier. We had the wind at our backs and looked dangerous attacking down the channels but found that the conditions or the bobbly pitch often led to us losing control. We were particularly causing the Hearts lads trouble from set pieces and that’s how we eventually took the lead. A corner from Gaz fell to JV on the penalty spot and his scuffed shot was turned in from a yard out by Burnsy.
The defence was on fine form once again, with Denti marshalling his troops superbly at the back and we were on top but with the prospect of playing against the wind in the second half we knew that we had to get a second goal and Burnsy came close on a couple of occasions. Eventually we did get the second and once again it came from a set piece. This time it was a long throw and once again it fell to JV in the area. He managed to get better purchase on his shot this time and it found it’s way in to the bottom corner to give us a great boost just before half time.
At half time we were conditioned and prepared for a battle as we knew Hearts would come out with the wind behind them and have a right go and they did! We were under great pressure but we battled hard and defended resolutely with Yeardy, playing in goal in place of the absent Shark, pulling off one or two miraculous saves and their lads missed a few chances.
It was rare that we got in to the Hearts box but when we did we felt we had to score so were disappointed when Burnsy and Gaz missed good opportunities. Eventually we succumbed to the pretty much relentless pressure as Hearts pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 but that was after they had earlier missed a penalty after Paul Ell tried to decapitate a Hearts forward. At 2-1 the next goal was vital but we once again steadied the ship and it was us that got the vital third. It was yet another set piece from Gaz and Burnsy was once again on hand to tap in after the keeper had misjudged the flight of the ball.
That goal pretty much knocked the stuffing out of Hearts and we saw out the remaining fifteen minutes with ease and went on to record a 3-1 victory that ends our Edinburgh hoodoo and continues our hopes of a league and cup double. We face another Edinburgh team, Hibs, in the ¼ finals now, luckily they’ll be doing the travelling this time as we host them at Hooton Lodge and we hope to exact revenge on them for knocking us out of the cup at the same stage last season.
JV