Hearts 2 Falkirk 1

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Andy Kirk left it late to take revenge on Falkirk for Hearts in the CIS Insurance Cup third round tie at Tynecastle.

Mark de Vries put the Jambos on the road to exorcising the ghosts of the four-goal Tennent's Scottish Cup drubbing at Brockville in January nine minutes after the break.

But former Hibernian playmaker Russell Latapy hauled the Bairns back on level terms with a brilliant equaliser four minutes later.

However, Northern Ireland international Kirk, who scored twice at Partick on Saturday, grabbed the winner with just four minutes remaining courtesy of an unkind deflection off ex-Hearts defender Kevin James.

The Bairns had started brightly and put Hearts under pressure in the sixth minute when Craig McPherson's corner was met by John Hughes but the player-manager nodded just wide of the post.

Latapy then forced Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon into a decent save seconds later.

Hearts also looked capable of finding the back of the net and they had a chance to do just that when Paul Hartley went on a decent run that took him into the box.

His shot was blocked by the Bairns' defence and Stephen Simmons squandered a great chance when he sent the follow-up shot well over the crossbar.

Simmons had another chance to give Hearts the lead after 25 minutes when he met Hartley's cross only to see his close-range header denied by a great save from goalkeeper Allan Ferguson.

Hearts tried desperately to push forward in search of the opener after the re-start but they were finding themselves increasingly frustrated by the Falkirk defence.

But a James challenge on Jean-Louis Valois led to the breakthrough for Hearts in the 54th minute.

Hartley's free-kick was blocked by Ferguson but he spilled the ball under pressure from Kirk, allowing de Vries to fire home.

But Hearts' joy was short-lived when Falkirk grabbed the equaliser in impressive style just five minutes later.

Latapy went on a superb run, which took him past several Hearts players, before unleashing the shot from the edge of the 18-yard box and goalkeeper Gordon let the ball slip past him into the back of the net.

That proved to be Latapy's last contribution to the game and he was replaced two minutes later by Brent Rahim.

The home support were screaming for a penalty after 68 minutes when Valois tumbled in the box under pressure from McPherson but referee John Rowbotham was unimpressed.

With 15 minutes remaining, Hearts wasted another decent chance when Valois picked out Simmons for a header eight yards out but he couldn't find the target and nodded wide of the post instead.

But Kirk grabbed Hearts' crucial second goal when he unleashed an impressive 25-yard shot, which deflected off James and into the back of the net, with just four minutes left to play.

The Northern Irishman thought he had scored again seconds later but the assistant referee's flag was already raised for offside.

Teams

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, McKenna, Kisnorbo, Hartley, Simmons (Wyness 80), Severin, Valois, de Vries, Kirk.

Subs Not Used: Maybury, McCann, MacFarlane, Moilanen.

Goals: de Vries 54, Kirk 86.

Falkirk Ferguson, Lawrie, McPherson, MacKenzie, Hughes, James, Sharp, Nicholls (McAnespie 48), Latapy (Rahim 61), Xausa, McMenamin (Colquhoun 87).

Subs Not Used: Scally, Darren Hill.

Booked: McAnespie.

Goals: Latapy 58.

Att: 8,649

Ref: J Rowbotham (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com