Hearts 3 Hibs U19s 1

Hibs U19s suffered their second league defeat of the season as Hearts secured all three points at Oriam.

The hosts took a two-goal lead into half-time through Charlie Sanders' close-range opener and Tommy North's header on the cusp of half-time.

Jamie McMurdo would pull one back just beyond the hour mark, only for Callen Robb to reinstate Hearts' two-goal advantage five minutes later. 

We were without several bodies for the derby - with Dean Cleland, Joseph McGrath, Cole Shankland, Callum MacDonald, Jay Gallacher and Luke Davidson all missing out. 

Hibs XI: Mallon, McSporran, Riddell, Gillie, Buckley (McNeill 36'), Bruce, McMurdo, Burns (Downie 71'), Jimenez, McDonald, Calder.

Substitutes: Brown, McNeill, Downie, McDermott, Aghanya, Thomson.

Hibs started strong in the opening spell, with a high Josh McDonald cross finding McMurdo in the box inside two minutes. The forward’s first-time volley was instantly blocked by a Hearts defender while cries for handball were ignored by the referee. 

Ten minutes later, McDonald whipped in a threatening corner kick that was cleared by the hosts only as far as Zach Bruce. The midfielder was off balance when he took on his shot and fired wide of the mark. 

Despite starting well, we found ourselves behind on 13 minutes. The home team capitalised on a failure to clear our lines from a corner, with midfielder Sanders prodding in the opener. 

After Sanders saw a header caught by Mallon, Hibs sprung forward on the counter. A pinpoint McDonald pass allowed Owen Calder to sneak in behind the Hearts defence, though his low drive across the face of goal flashed past the far post.

On 24 minutes, McDonald would force a low save from Hearts keeper Jack Lyon after beating his marker with neat footwork. 

Another chance would befall McDonald after a trip from Keir McMeekin on McMurdo saw Hibs rewarded a free kick. Hoping for more, the midfielder’s dipping strike was held by Lyon. 

Six minutes from the break, a long-range McMurdo effort caused trouble for Lyon. The Hearts keeper was into an unorthodox save with his chest to keep out the forward's powerful effort that bounced awkwardly just in front of him. 

Less than 60 seconds later Hibs would threaten once more, with McDonald’s low strike forcing Lyon into a low stop. 

Despite Hibs putting the pressure on, it would be Hearts who found the net next – with North’s looping header doubling the home team’s advantage on 44 minutes.

On 51 minutes, Sanders nearly grabbed his second with a curling strike from a wide angle – though this flew wide – just moments after Zach Bruce was denied a goalscoring opportunity by a last-ditch McMeekin challenge. 

We would threaten twice in the two minutes that followed, with McDonald – who broke away from the Hearts defence at pace – dragging a low shot just wide of the far post.

A minute later, McMurdo would find himself in a very similar attacking position after racing clear. He bore down on goal but, like McDonald, saw his grounded strike pull wide. 

McMurdo would cut the deficit in half on 62 minutes, lashing in from close range past Lyon after being teed up by Logan Jimenez. 

Hearts would quickly restore their two-goal lead five minutes later however, with an outstretched Robb turning in from a Jaedon Donkor cross.

McMurdo would be felled by Joshua Radcliffe 25 yards from goal in the 83rd minute. After the defender was booked, the Hibs attacker would dust himself down and take on the dead ball shot – though his curved strike around the wall was held by Lyon.

The forward would threaten once more after excellently jinking his way around multiple defenders in the penalty area on 85 minutes, but McMurdo would be denied well by Lyon at full stretch. 

The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 87 minutes after substitute Jayden Mathie was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mallon. 

Despite the Hibees’ piling on the pressure at the death, the hosts would hold on to secure the three points.