Andy breaks home crowd's hearts

Feb 23 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

A DRAMATIC extra-time leveller from Andy Dorman was enough to give Gus MacPherson’s Buddies a richly deserved share of the points in a hard-fought SPL encounter at Tynecastle.

Hearts defender Eggert Jonsson put Csaba Laszlo’s side ahead with 12 minutes remaining but ‘handy’ Andy popped up with the goods right at the death to leave the home-crowd absolutely stunned.

Buddies boss MacPherson made three changes to the starting 11 that beat Motherwell just two days previously.

Back came Mo Camara to occupy the left-back slot ahead of David Barron and Stephen McGinn replaced Steven Thomson in midfield.

Jim Hamilton also returned to striking duties at the expense of Dennis Wyness.

After four minutes, David Obua’s penetrating run from inside his own half saw the Ugandan unleash a right-foot shot from distance, but it trundled wide of the right hand post.

Then Lee Wallace had a pop at goal when Michael Stewart’s through ball came off the toe of Hugh Murray, but it was nowhere near target.

Saints created a half chance when Hamilton connected with a Jack Ross free-kick from the right, but Hearts goalkeeper Janos Balogh took it cleanly.

Then Billy Mehmet’s well-placed header found Dorman in space, but Balogh came out and made a brave block at the midfielder’s feet.

After 18 minutes, Saints won a free-kick 25 yards out on the left when Mehmet was impeded and Dorman’s inswinger was headed agonisingly wide of the left-hand post by Hamilton.

At the other end, Chris Smith was forced to parry a shot from Christian Nade before Ross knocked it out for a corner. From the resultant set piece, Jonsson’s effort came off the right hand post and Nade put the rebound inches over.

Then a Robbie Neilson free-kick found the head of Obua, on the left, and the midfielder centred for Bruno Aguiar, but the Hearts star scuffed his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Camara went to ground under Jason Thomson’s challenge near the half hour and from the free-kick near the left corner flag by Dorman, Balogh took it cleanly.

Then Hamilton saw a hopeful right-foot shot at the edge of the box sail high and wide.

Moments later, Obua connected with an Aguiar corner on the right, but Smith was equal to the task.

After 35 minutes, Smith got down well to save a stinging shot from ever-lively Obua,when he found space 25 yards from goal.

Murray picked up a costly booking after 39 minutes for a foul on Wallace, and the Jam Tarts won a free-kick 25 yards out on the left.

In the lead-up to the set piece, Scott Cuthbert and Nade were booked for tussling in the box, before Aguiar’s right-foot shot skimmed the top of the crossbar and flew over.

Then Obua just got the better of Cuthbert to send a left-foot shot from 16 yards wide of the mark.

Hamilton picked up a head knock into time added on when he challenged Jonsson for possession, but the big man was soon to his feet.

After the interval, it was Hearts who were first to threaten when Nade glanced an Aguiar corner on the right wide of the left-hand post

Half time substitute Laryea Kingston came off second best after he was tackled by McGinn and the midfield playmaker had to be stretchered off after 51 minutes.

Towards the hour mark Saints made a change with Thomson replacing Murray in midfield.

Then McGinn saw a shot in the Hearts penalty box deflected over for a corner after Mehmet played him in but the set piece came to nothing.

With 12 minutes to go, Hearts took the lead when a cross ball came into the dangerzone.

While the initial shot from Obua was blocked, Jonsson picked up the rebound to send it through a ruck of players from 12 yards and into the net.

Craig Dargo came on for McGinn, before Saulius Mikoliunas saw an effort from range drift wide of the left hand post.

Dorman picked up a caution after 83 minutes for a petulant push on Nade, then Dargo glanced a Camara cross on the left over the bar.

Mikoliunas should have put the game to bed late on but he missed a sitter from six yards after Obua beat Ross down the left and centred for him.

With three minutes remaining, Wyness replaced John Potter as Saints chased the game.

And into injury time, it was Dorman who slid home the equaliser when a Ross free-kick on the right took a couple of touches before Cuthbert headed it across goal for the unmarked midfielder to slide the ball under the body of Balogh.