Robbie Neilson testimonial is a thriller!

Hearts 4-3 Cup Winners
From Hearts News at Tynecastle

After a trying season, the time had come to relive the two happiest days in Hearts' recent history, as for Robbie Neilson's testimonial the current squad was pitted against members from the sides that recorded a fantastic Scottish Cup win over Rangers in 1998 and an equally memorable, if less sensational, triumph over Gretna eight years later.

You can't put a price on happy memories, and for those who turned out, watching these players perform at Tynecastle again certainly rekindled a few of them. The game began at a testimonial pace, but we didn't have long to wait for the opening goal, as Ivaskevicius headed home from a corner. Memorable early moments included a fierce tackle from Stefano Salvatori and a great run and shot from Stevie Fulton, which was well held by Banks. Robbo was less enamoured when Stephen Adam laid off a great pass for him to run onto - he wasn't game though!

Mole tapped home from a Cesnaukis lay off after eight minutes and early fears that the Cup Winners would show up the current squad began to fade. The young Geordie added another four minutes later, beating the offside trap and slotting past Rousset. Apart from Robbie himself, the one everybody wanted to see score was Wee Robbo, and he had a great chance to sidle past Wallace but couldn't muster the pace.

Lockie and Flogel both had chances to beat Banks but went over and wide respectively. The crowd was willing the Cup Winners to find a way past our current keeper, who of course himself earned a medal back in 2006 from a sedentary position on the bench.

By now we'd had a few changes, as despite the obvious skill still possessed by the Cup Winners, the fitness levels weren't what they once were. Adam and Robbo had since departed, as the Cup Winners sought to reduce the deficit.

The second half began with Cup Winners manager having used all his subs, bringing on Aguiar and Skacel and then Steven Pressley, who returned to an almost universal heroes welcome. Elvis had been on the park for about five minutes before Skacel set up Pospisil for a belting finish past Banks. Screpis replied almost immediately with a fierce drive under Rousset.

The big Frenchman was called into action when he produced a great stop from Mole and then Banks halted Skacel's free kick before throwing himself in front of Cesnauskis, now playing for the legends. Gary Mackay, sportingly introduced by Scott Wilson as a member of the 1956 Cup Winning team, then entered the fray.

Comical defending - we've said that once or twice this season - allowed Skacel to sweep home from close range...his first ever goal at the Gorgie end. Then, after a soft penalty award, Robbie Neilson himself bulleted the spot kick past Ridgers. Robbo and Fulton re-appeared and the former went so close when he hit over after Ridgers had stopped a long-range effort from Skacel.

Robbie departed, to be replaced by lifelong Jambo and club masseur Alan Robson. That was the final action of an afternoon to remember, in amongst a season that most will not. Robbie Neilson we salute you!

Hearts: Banks (Ridgers, 77), Thomson (Karipidis, 58), Berra, Rapnik, Wallace; Cesnauskis, (Husband, 25), McGowan, Palazuelos, Kingston (Screpis, 60), Ivaskevicius (Sives, 46); Mole. Subs: Jonsson, Stewart, Zaliukas.

Hearts 1998/2006: Rousset; Neilson, McPherson (Hamilton, 33, Robertson, 80)), Ritchie, Locke (Aguiar, 46, Flogel 50, Fulton, 80))); Flogel (Skacel, 46), McCann, Fulton (Goncalves, 44), Salvatori (Quitongo, 30, Cesnauskis, 60)); Adam (Pospisil, 41), Robertson (Tall, 37)

Hearts World