Raith Rovers 3-0 Hearts
15.11.2007

Cesnauskis chases Lee Naylor

Cesnauskis returns as Hearts go down
From Hearts News at Starks Park
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Deividas Cesnauskis made his first start for Hearts since facing Celtic last November, playing almost an hour of a low key friendly defeat to Raith Rovers at Stark's Park.

Former Jambos Graham Weir and Andy Tod were both on target for Raith as the Jambos fielded a mixed eleven for this challenge match. Derek Carcary netted the third to seal victory for John McGlynn's side.

Michal Pospisil had been due to start this game but the Czech never found his way to the field after picking up a knee injury in the warm up. This paved the way for the young striker Mark McCusker to come off the bench.

It was to be McCusker who had Hearts best opportunity to go ahead. Juho Makela timed a perfect pass across field to the oncoming Cesnauskis who played a begging ball right across the face of goal. McCusker fired in form close range but Raith keeper Brown was on hand to make the save.

We all remember Happy New Weir

As the half drew on there was not much to pick between the two sides but arguably the best chance of the game fell to ex-Hearts man Graham Weir who got in between the two Hearts central defenders and chipped the ball over Basso who had come off his line. The shot landed wide of target but gave Basso a scare.

It signalled a change in fortune for Raith who went on to open the scoring through none other than Graham Weir. A low flighted corner caught the Hearts defence and keeper out and a goal mouth scramble ensued before Weir tapped in from close range.

Hearts came close two minutes later with a Kostadinov header. The Bulgarian just didn't manage to loop his header from Cesnauskis' free-kick over Michael Brown.

It almost got worse for Hearts seconds after when Raith had the ball in the net for a second time, this time it was called offside but Hearts were caught napping.

Starks Park - home of Raith Rovers FC

At the restart Hearts introduced Steve Banks for Basso and unfortunately for Banksy his first job was to pick the ball up out of the net. A Wilson cross found Tod in the penalty box and he headed home from close range. It made painful watching for the 429 Hearts fans who had travelled through for this friendly.

Raith seemed out to prove a point against top flight opposition and they extended their lead to three after 65 minutes. Derek Carcary got the better of Shaun Kelly and shot superbly past Banks and into the bottom corner.

Hearts pushed on after the loss of the third goal and were awarded a penalty after Kostandinov was brought down in the area. Hamilton took the resultant spot kick and but Raith keeper Fahey saved. It all but summed up Hearts evening in front of goal.

There was even time for goalkeeper Fahey to replace Brown, only for Brown to have to return to the field after the substitute keeper was forced from the field with concussion.

Raith Rovers: Brown (Fahey 61); Wilson, Dingwall, Lumsden, Andrews (Hislop 71); Winter (Walker 70), Borris (Whatley 84), Sloan, Carcary (Thomson 84); Weir, Tod.

Hearts: Basso (Banks 45); Ivaskevicius, Rapnik (Stewart 53), Hamilton, Park; Cesnauskis (Kelly 58), Pilibaitis, Mearns, Makela (Copil 68); McCusker (Husband 81), Kostadinov.

Referee: Crawford Allan

Hearts World