Robertson to Hearts' rescue

20 Aug 1992

Brechin 1, Hearts 2 (After extra time. 90min: 1-1)

JOHN Robertson was Hearts' man of the moment in extra time at Glebe Park, where he slotted home the winner from a clever Glynn Snodin chip in 108 minutes, but second-division Brechin, especially their defence, earned the cheers for pushing their premier-division opponents so close.

Hearts looked through to the next round when Tosh McKinlay put them ahead in 74 minutes, but a Bobby Brown goal nine minutes later forced extra time.

The elusive Robertson had cruel luck in 30 minutes, when he side-stepped McKillop and delivered a shot which hit the bar.

It was City's lucky night again when Wayne Foster's cross-cum-shot hit the far post in 35 minutes.

Hearts looked as if they meant business at the start of the second half.

City had to defend grimly, but in a cheeky breakaway Andy Heggie tried a back-header which keeper Henry Smith held easily.

Tosh McKinlay at last broke the deadlock in 74 minutes when he fired in a great effort which came back off a post.

He followed up to net the rebound, also off the same post.

Brown raised the roof for City in 83 minutes with a powerful header from a Mark Millar free kick to grab the equaliser, and Millar almost caught keeper Smith by surprise three minutes later when a 30 yarder hit the side net.

BRECHIN CITY -- Allan, McLaren, Cairney, Brown, McKillop, Hutt, Lees, Scott, Heggie, Millar, Ross.

Substitutes -- Lorimer, O'Brien.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinley, Levein, Hogg, MacKay, Robertson, Ferguson, Baird, Mauchlen, Foster.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Snodin.

Referee -- K Clark (Paisley).

Taken from the Herald