Seven up as Hearts U-19s build fitness

HEARTS under-19s chalked up a comfortable 7-1 win over Hearts of Liddesdale at Newcastleton on Saturday.

The visitors got off to the best of starts scoring within the first minute of their hosts' 125th anniversary match, Jamie Mole taking advantage of a defensive blunder and supplying a pass for Denis McLaughlin to score from close range.

This early strike paved the way for constant pressure from the Edinburgh club, who might have scored a few more goals before Sean Mackle scored a second on 27 minutes with a six-yard right-foot shot following a Mathew Doherty cross from the left.

The home side had created little in the first half although Hearts keeper Milan Barjaktarevic was forced into a diving save on 35 minutes from a shot by Daniel Brough.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first period with the home side reducing the leeway within the first minute, Brough rifling a through ball past the keeper.

In hot conditions, Hearts added a third goal on 64 minutes through a McLaughlin close-range header following a Mole-Doherty move. Hearts were now in total control and on 70 minutes Alan Lithgow scored with an eight-yard header from a Doherty cross.

On 72 minutes, McLaughlin completed his hat-trick with a solo run following a Paul McDonald pass. Hearts pushed forward, introducing another three substitutes.

In the final ten minutes against tiring opponents Steven Slater scored with a 22-yard shot with the home defence in disarray and six minutes from time Jamie Mole completed the scoring with a 20-yard right foot shot.

Hearts youth coach Stevie Frail said: "You don't know what to expect in those games but overall I was delighted with both the result and performance and Denis McLaughlin's hat-trick. However, it's all about fitness at this stage of the season as we continue the build up to the youth side's league campaign."

Hearts: Barjaktarevic, Thomson, Pelosi, Armstrong , Lithgow, Johnsson (Forker 61), Mackle (MacDonald 70), Mole, McLaughlin (McCusker 77), Neill (Slater 77), Doherty (Kelly 77).

Taken from the Scotsman