Hateley double not enough to deny Hearts

RAY HEPBURN

4 Nov 1993

Hearts 2, Rangers 2.

HEARTS and Rangers fittingly collected a point each from a Tynecastle match last night that should never have been completed.

Torrential late afternoon rain continued into the evening, but match referee David Syme, in conjuction with his linesmen, passed the playing surface fit after a pre-match inspection.

However, despite valiant efforts by the Hearts ground staff, patches of surface water were clearly visible during the first half, and never at any time was the ball able to flow unrestricted during an otherwise entertaining match.

It is to the great credit of both sets of players that neither set of spectators would go home disappointed, but in these conditions it was almost impossible to draw comparisons between the teams.

However, there were several points to note.

Firstly, there was the decisiveness and strength of Rangers striker Mark Hateley, who scored two first-half goals that appeared to have won the match.

Secondly, Hearts' resolve which deservedly earned them a share of the night's work.

It is also worth mentioning Rangers goalkeeper Ally Maxwell, who took much criticism after the Ibrox club's Old Firm defeat by Celtic on Saturday.

In treacherous conditions for a goalkeeper, he handled everything cleanly and appeared to have his confidence intact.

The teams had barely settled when Hateley's eye for a chance earned Rangers the lead after 11 minutes.

Pieter Huistra seemed to have pulled his corner too far away from goal, but the tall English striker met the ball on the volley with his left foot 14 yards out to strike it high into Nicky Walker's net.

Hearts enjoyed a fair share of possession therefter and after 21 minutes John Robertson broke past Richard Gough on Rangers' left, but just overran the ball and the chance was lost.

At the other end, Walker held Ian Ferguson's 25-yard free kick before Mo Johnston saw his drive from the left held above his head by Maxwell.

Rangers spied a place in the top three with 60 seconds of the first half remaining when Hateley struck again.

Gough's through ball saw Graeme Hogg slip on the difficult surface and Hateley stood tall to collect the ball and clip it over Walker.

Rangers seemed in control, but Hearts continued to make the most of threatening penalty area moves with Leitch active from just outside a clinical range.

In 46 minutes his left-foot shot was clutched by Maxwell and then two minutes later he drove just wide from a similarly ambitious distance.

Conditions claimed a victim in 54 minutes when Hearts captain Craig Levein was stretchered off with an ankle injury after Stuart McCall's late tackle seemed to be assisted by the rain-sodden turf.

However, the Edinburgh team were not to be deflected from the fight and in 72 minutes John Robertson cut the ball back to substitute Gary Mackay deep in the Rangers penalty area, and the new man placed the ball accurately behind Maxwell from 16 yards.

Eight minutes later Hearts equalised.

Robertson again made the telling cross, but this time from the left, and the ball was met John Colquhoun, who beat Maxwell comprehensively with his header.

HEARTS -- Walker, Weir, Wright, Levein, Hogg, McLaren, Locke, Leitch, Colquhoun, M Johnston, Robertson.

Substitutes -- A Johnston, Mackay, Smith.

RANGERS -- Maxwell, McCall, Robertson, Gough, McPherson, Brown, Mikhailichenko, I Ferguson, McCoist, Hateley, Huistra.

Substitutes -- Durrant, Pressley, Scott.

Referee -- D F T Syme (Rutherglen).

Taken from the Herald