Everton cruise as Hearts give youngsters a chance

JAMES TRAYNOR

3 Aug 1993

Hearts 0, Everton 2

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EVERTON were unable to field Alan McInally in Henry Smith's testimonial match last night, but they didn't need whatever it may be that the former Celtic player has left.

The English side won without having to extend themselves.

Hearts play Rangers at Ibrox in the opening game of the league season and they will have to offer much more.

It will be interesting to see if manager Sandy Clark, whose team finished with freshmen Gary Locke, Kevin Thomas, Alan Johnston, and Paul Ritchie on the pitch, continues to look towards youth.

Although the German FA did not release McInally's registration from Bayern Munich in time for last night's match, Everton intend to play him in a friendly against Port Vale on Friday, but it must be doubtful if he can still perform at the highest level after four knee operations.

Maurice Johnston, another who hit the heights with Celtic, and then with Rangers, also appears to have left his best far behind and Everton used him only for the first 45 minutes.

His place was taken by Tony Cottee, who scored the second goal with his first touch after Matt Jackson, an English under-21 internationalist, had scored the first.

But even though they lost, Hearts and their 9000 fans were happy to salute Smith, who has been at Tynecastle for 12 years and deserves his reward.

Just before the kick-off Rangers' keeper Andy Goram presented a trophy to Smith on behalf of the premier division goalkeeping fraternity.

The action was tame until Mackay and McKinlay combined to send the ball soaring into Everton's box.

It dropped nicely to Thomas, who had time to control his movements but he shot wide of the mark.

Thomas had another opportunity but Snodin lunged in and prodded the ball away.

Thomas tried a shot a few minutes later and although he again was wide, it was obvious the teenager was the only player threatening Everton's goal.

Former Rangers player Paul Rideout had two shots which Smith dealt with, but Everton were waiting their time.

The goal came in 38 minutes when Beagrie's deep cross was thumped home by Jackson.

Smith had to sprawl at the feet of Johnston a few minutes later to prevent Hearts from falling further behind.

The Edinburgh side resumed with Robertson, Ferguson, and Ritchie on in place of Fashanu, Colquhoun, and Mackay while Everton kept Johnston indoors.

His place was taken by Cottee, who made an immediate impact.

The second half was only two minutes old when Snodin made his way down the right before crossing the ball into the middle.

Cottee, with his first touch, swept the ball beyond Smith and into the net.

Millar tried to respond on Hearts' behalf but his 20-yard shot soared over the bar.

He was then taken off to make way for another of the Tynecastle teenagers, Johnston, regarded by many as the best of manager Clark's young crop.

By then, though, Everton had the game won.

The Tynecastle side's work was tidy at times, but it did not have enough of an edge to trouble the Everton defenders.

HEARTS -- Smith, Wright, McKinlay, Levein, Locke, Van de Ven, Colquhoun, Mackay, Fashanu, Millar, Thomas.

Substitutes -- Ferguson, Berry, Johnston, Robertson, Ritchie, Boothroyd, Walker.

EVERTON -- Southall, Jackson, Ablett, Ebbrell, Watson, Snodin, Preki, Ward, Rideout, Johnston, Beagrie.

Substitutes -- Holmes, Kearton, Warzycha, Priest, Cottee.

Referee -- A Huett (Edinburgh).

Taken from the Herald