03/09/2022  |  League

Cumbernauld Colts   2  v  1  Heart of Midlothian B

Cumbernauld Colts played host to Hearts B in matchday 9 of the Lowland League. Colts were looking to bounce back from a midweek defeat to Civil Service Strollers, while Hearts B were also looking to bounce back after their midweek defeat to Caledonian Braves.

Colts came close to opening the scoring in the first 2 minutes as Ewan MacPherson sent a low shot across the box that beat the keeper but hit the post and the follow-up strike has turned wide by the keeper.
Hearts B were the next team to threaten to open the scoring. Hearts were awarded a free kick on the right-hand side of the Colts box. Murray Thomas stepped up to take it and cannoned a shot towards the top right corner, but a brilliant save from Ryan Adamson denied Hearts B the perfect start.

Cole McIntyre opened the scoring for Colts after 15 mins. An unfortunate slip for Hearts B’S Adam Forrester gave Stephen O’Neil a chance to intercept. O’Neil picked out Cole McIntyre who sprinted through 2 Hearts B defenders and placed a delicate chip over the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

Hearts B scored the leveller just after the half-hour mark through Leon Watson. Craig Holmes picked out a long, hopeful pass from Hearts B but slipped while under pressure from Watson who found himself 1-on-1 with Adamson and drilled the ball past him into the bottom left corner. It’s all square again as they near half-time.
Half-time: Cumbernauld Colts 1 Hearts B 1. An eventful first half with both keepers making important saves and both teams capitalising on each others mishaps to score.

Reg McLaren puts the Colts ahead less than 3 minutes after the restart. A low cross from Cole McIntyre from the right-hand side of the box finds McLaren whose first shot is blocked by a defender, but there was no stopping his second shot which rocketed high into the back of the net.

A real chance for Colts to increase their lead to 2. A whipped-in corner to the back post finds the head of MacPherson whose header is punched clear. Hearts can’t get the ball away from danger and MacPherson gets a second chance as the ball falls to him in the box, he takes it down and let’s fly but his strike hits the post and stays out.

Colts look to make it 3-1 as McLaren makes his way forward and gets into a 1-on-1 with the keeper but his shot is straight at the keeper who deflects it upwards and gathers the ball on the second attempt.

Full-time: Cumbernauld Colts 2 Hearts B 1. A deserved win for the Colts today against a good Hearts B team. That win sees Colts move to 10th in the table as they go into the cup break.

By Thomas McCaffrey