Nothing held in reserve by derby rivals

Hearts reserves 1
Hibs reserves 2

RESERVE matches are all about fitness and performance with results of secondary importance - that's the theory anyway.

Yet at Forthbank yesterday, where the Hearts and Hibs second-strings met, it looked like nobody had told the players as they went head-to-head in a full blooded affair as competitive as any first team-match you are likely to see.

The small crowd that had made their way to Stirling were treated to three goals, two sendings-off, a flurry of bookings and two contentious penalty decisions, not to mention some top drawer football.

The on-goings at both Capital clubs over the past couple of weeks meant the spotlight shone more brightly on this match than perhaps it otherwise might have.

On the pitch, goals from Dean Shiels either side of half-time were enough to give the Easter Road outfit victory with Jamie Mole on target for the Gorgie club.

But it was off the park where most of the attention was focussed with Hibs currently without a manager and Hearts boss Valdas Ivanauskas given two weeks sick leave for an unspecified condition. Eduard Malofeev, pictured below, has taken command of the first team in his absence, but yesterday it was John McGlynn who was in charge of the reserves, under the watchful eye of Anatoli Korobochka, the club's sporting director, who was seated in the main stand.

The Jambos fielded a team that, with one or two exceptions, wouldn't have looked out of place lining up in the SPL.

Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves continued his comeback from injury by getting 90 minutes under his belt while the likes of Christos Karipidis, Julien Brellier, Bruno Aguiar and Saulius Mikoliunas among others, also featured.

Hibs, by contrast, fielded a relatively young side with only Simon Brown, Jay Shields, Chris Hogg, Abdessalam Benjelloun and the returning Guillaume Beuzelin with any notable first-team action under their belts.

Yet it was the visitors who left with all three points, a fact that delighted caretaker manager Mark Proctor.

"It was a very experienced side that Hearts put out while we had quite a young team, but I think that turned out to be motivational for us," said the former Darlington assistant boss.

"We stressed the importance of starting well and in the first half I thought we were quite outstanding. We ran out of steam a bit in the second half and they scored a good equaliser and put us under a little bit of pressure, but I thought we deserved to win the game."

Proctor's counterpart, John McGlynn, however, did not share his views.

"I find it hard to believe we actually lost," he said.

"Hibs only had one shot in the second half and I didn't even think it was a great shot, but it ended up in the back of the net!"

It was Hearts who were first to threaten in the match when a 25-yard rasping drive from Brellier flew narrowly wide of Brown's left hand post.

But despite the contrasting levels of experience between the two teams it was Hibs who knocked the ball about better and seemed to boss the opening exchanges.

And they broke the deadlock with 29 minutes on the clock when Shiels controlled a Beuzelin pass on his right foot before switching onto his left and drilling a low effort into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

Within 60 seconds the Jambos tried to respond when Brellier, not renowned for his shooting, again came close from distance but saw his powerful shot beaten away by Brown.

Twelve minutes from the interval the tricky Jamie McCluskey almost doubled his side's advantage when he squirmed between Mikoliunas and Aguiar only for Banks to parry his attempt from 20 yards.

The first of two contentious decisions from referee Graham Chambers came with 39 minutes played when Brellier latched onto Jamie Mole's through ball and drove into the box.

The Frenchman was clearly impeded by Hogg who hauled him to the ground by the shoulder, yet incredibly Chambers allowed play to continue.

On the stroke off half-time, however, the official did call a major decision correctly when he sent-off Tiago Costa for a cynical trip on Lewis Stevenson as the youngster made a lung-bursting run up the pitch.

The Portuguese defender was cautioned for that offence which came only minutes after he had been booked for tugging back Benjelloun.

After the interval Hearts, despite their numerical disadvantage, looked a far better side and should have been given a lifeline almost immediately.

Mikoliunas appeared to be upended in the box by Beuzelin and although the Lithuanian winger's theatrical fall to the turf did him no favours it looked a clear-cut penalty nonetheless.

As it transpired Hearts didn't have to wait too long to get back on level terms and just after the hour Mole was expertly picked out by Aguiar and his quick turn and shot from 22 yards left Brown helpless.

The ten-man Jambos looked to be in the ascendency at this stage only to again find themselves trailing with 18 minutes remaining.

Sam Morrow, on as a substitute, stuck a leg out at a Shiels cross-cum-shot and although he didn't make any contact his presence six yards from goal was enough to put off Stevie Banks who allowed the effort to creep into the far corner.

Why the linesman didn't flag Morrow offside, however, remains as mystery as the Northern Irishman was clearly interfering with play, standing directly in Banks' line of sight.

In the closing stages the home side could easily have had another player sent for an early bath when Julien Brellier foolishly clipped Morrow round the ear after an over-zealous challenge from the striker. Referee Chambers decided a booking for either player would suffice although he was forced to reach for his red card again at the death when Morrow picked up a second booking for swearing at the referee.

"It was quite a physical a game but you have to remember it was a derby and even at this level tempers can run high," Proctor said.

"We both finished with ten men which was a little disappointing but I don't think there was anything unduly nasty.

"It was just 11 lads who occasionally went over the top in their desire to win."

McGlynn, meanwhile, believed the game could have turned out very differently had his side been awarded either of their penalty claims.

"It's irritating because having lost the game you might have won it had they been given," he said.

"Julien said the Hibs boy was pulling on his shoulder and Saul felt he was chopped down too."

Despite the result, however, McGlynn believes there were plenty of positives to be taken.

"I thought Julien Brellier was outstanding and Aguiar played a big part as well," he said.

"In the second half, even with ten men I felt we dominated the game. Jose Goncalves strolled the match and that's good in terms of getting players back available for the first team.

"It was good for Jamie Mole's confidence to get a goal. He took it very well."

Hearts: Banks, Costa, Goncalves, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Brellier, Mikoliunas (Glen 79), Aguiar, Mole, Pospisil (Makela 56), Pelosi (Docherty 70). Subs not used: Macdonald, Armstrong.

Hibs: Brown, Shields, Stevenson, McCann, Hogg, Lynch (Smith 70), Shiels, Beuzelin, Benjelloun, McCluskey (Chisholm 74), Campbell (Morrow 63). Subs not used: Grof.

Taken from the Scotsman