Hearts 1-0 Royal Antwerp

Edinburgh club celebrate Tynecastle's 125th anniversary with a victory over Royal Antwerp.

By Mark Pryde

Hearts fans had plenty to party about on Tynecastle 125th birthday as they secured their first silverware of the season with a 1-0 win over Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

The home team – playing in their final pre-season game before the league kick-off next weekend - took a while to get into their stride against the well-organised visitors and struggled to create any clear cut opportunities.

But a strong Hearts side persevered and received their reward on 82 minutes when Jamie Hamill tucked away a penalty kick after substitute Arvydas Novikovas was brought down in the box.

Hearts went into the game with an almost completely changed side to the one that lost 1-0 to First Division side Livingston during the week, with Ryan Stevenson the only player to keep his place.

New signings Mehdi Taouil, Danny Grainger and John Sutton all started in a 4-3-3 formation while Jim Jefferies opted for a strong partnership of Andy Webster and captain Marius Zaliukas in the middle of defence.

Royal Antwerp – who had brought along a vocal away support – are famous for their link up with English giants Manchester United and although there were no Red Devils on show at Tynecastle, they had a number of players capable of causing problems.

Forward Keven Oris was first to threaten for Antwerp when he barged his way into the Hearts box on four minutes. However, his tame shot was well blocked by Danny Grainger and confidently picked up by keeper Marian Kello.

Hearts soon grew into the game and were showing plenty of energy in the middle of the park, with new signing Mehdi Taouil and winger David Templeton showing an eagerness to run with ball.

And it was the young Scot who provided Heart's first chance of the game when he made a trademark burst down the left channel on the half hour mark. However his well-directed ball across goal was just too fast for the oncoming John Sutton.

In a first half with little opportunities, Hearts were offered a further chance to take the lead minutes later when Ryan Stevenson was brought down just outside the box. Danny Grainger lined up to take the free-kick but couldn't lift his shot over the Antwerp wall.

The second half welcomed Heart's first changes of the game with Lithuanian Arvydas Novikovas coming on for Adrian Mrowiec and Ryan McGowan replacing Andy Webster at centre-half.

Minutes into the re-start a great knock down in the box from David Templeton offered Stevenson the chance to put Hearts in front, but his blasted shot was well held by Antwerp keeper Theo Defourniy.

Hearts made a further two changes on 64 minutes with Eggert Jonsson and Lee Wallace replacing Danny Grainger and Ryan Stevenson.

The home side continued to make steady inroads into the well marshalled Antwerp defence and almost made a long-awaited break-through in the 67th minute. Classy Moroccan Taouil – who continued to show why he was so highly sought by Jim Jefferies – laid a fine ball off to Ian Black who blasted a seemingly unstoppable shot at goal. With the fans at their feet, Antwerp keeper Defourniy again saved the away side with a stretching diving save.

Sensing that silverware was at stake, both sides upped the tempo towards the final ten minutes of play and Hearts were gifted a golden opportunity to secure the Tyncastle 125th anniversary cup on 83 minutes.

A lofted ball into the opposition box was well trapped by Arvydas Novikovas who was crudely brought to the ground by Antwerp substitute Marvin Peersman. Referee Steven McLean had no hesitation at pointed to the spot and new arrival Jamie Hamill introduced himself to the Tynecastle support with a well-placed penalty kick low into the left hand side of goal.

Cheered on by their loyal supporters, Antwerp continued to search for an equaliser but couldn't find a way past Hearts who lifted the trophy in front of a sizeable 4504 crowd.