Murphy's law proves Hearts' undoing as Ulster trip fizzles out

Mark McIntosh

LINFIELD 1
Murphy 51

HEARTS 0

HEARTS wrapped up their Northern Ireland tour with their second defeat in three games yesterday afternoon.

They went down 1-0 to Linfield at Windsor Park but boss Craig Levein still insists he was happy with the three game tour. This defeat came on the back of Wednesday’s 2-1 reverse against Ballymena and last Saturday’s comfortable 4-0 success against Lisburn Distillery.

"Overall I am happy with the Northern Ireland tour because at this stage of the season results do not matter" insisted Levein.

Hearts passed the ball well in the first half but a killer touch in front of goal was always lacking. Levein started striker Marc de Vries and Belfast boy Andy Kirk who received a cold reception from the Linfield faithful having played for their greatest rivals Glentoran.

If anything it was Linfield who took the game to Hearts with David Larmour going close from long range on 20 minutes with a drive which Tepi Moilanen pushed around the post.

On 33 minutes winger Jean Louis Valois cut in from the right flank before unleashing a low curling drive but keeper Alan Mammus saved at his far post.

The match was always competitive but at times challenges became over-physical with Paul Hartley getting involved in an off the ball incident with Linfield’s Pat McShane. The ref decided to take no action against either but that was not the end of the scuffles.

As the first half drew to a close there were arguments all over the pitch but again no action was taken.

The only goal of the game came in 51 minutes and it was a moment Moilanen will want to forget. With the ball seemingly going out of play without any problem, the former Preston keeper somehow managed to get a touch to give away a corner which was to prove costly. Aidan O’Kane’s corner from the right was met by a powerful header from William Murphy to give Moilanen no chance.

It was no surprise as Linfield had been piling on the pressure and Hearts failed to show any imagination in front of goal. Their best chance came on 62 minutes when Kirk went close to silencing the crowd with a quick turn and shot which was dealt with by Mammus

Several players looked disgruntled about the attitudes of Linfield’s tackling and Levein admitted he was shocked.

"I didn’t expect so many physical challenges especially in the first half but I can’t say I am disappointed as that game gears us up for the season." added Levein.

ARBROATH 3
Graham, 32, 85; Carghill 60

HEARTS U21 2
Strickland 12, 47

A PENALTY from Ross Graham was enough to earn Arbroath a well-deserved come from behind win against the young guns from Tynecastle.

With Ross Graham cancelling out a Colin Strickland header in the first half, it looked as if the visitors were going to come away with the spoils when Strickland headed home his second in 47 minutes.

But the home side never gave up and deserved to take something from the game, when Andy Carghill guided the ball into the net in 60 minutes.

The game looked as if it was heading for a draw until a lapse in concentration resulted in Graham being brought down inside the box and struck home the winner from the penalty spot.

With the problems of the Eddie Forrest saga well and truly behind them, Arbroath manager was able to give his side another valued workout ahead of the season which , included new aquisitons, former Motherwell,defender Greig Denham, Dave King.

As for Hearts, with the senior side, finishing off the tour in Ireland yesterday, the youngsters earned themselves a favourable report.

Taken from the Scotsman