Queen's 18s paid a heavy price for two mistakes that gifted Hearts both goals on Friday night in CAS Elite League game at Lochinch.
Queen’s came into this game on the back of three wins and three defeats in the opening six games of the CAS Elite League. Hearts were looking for their first win in this year’s competition.
A constant downpour welcomed both sides to the Lochinch pitch. Summer looked well and truly over.
The Tynecastle side started the game with a clear intent of keeping the fast-passing Spiders side at bay with a high press which worked as the game was being played inside the Queen’s half for most of the opening 10 minutes.
Hearts opened the scoring, in the sixth minute, when McLuckie intercepted a pass out from the Queen’s defence and slotted the ball past Sam Kane into the net.
Queen’s first venture upfield was in the ninth minute when they won their first corner.
Hearts continued to have the upper hand in the game, not allowing the home side any time to settle on the ball. The young Spiders were also guilty of lingering on the ball too long and lacking accuracy in their passing.
The Queen’s midfielders were attempting to set Dom Brady down the left wing with the ball, but he couldn’t make a dent in the well organised Hearts defence.
In the 25th minute Sam Kane pulled off a superb save from a Gus Stevenson shot from the edge of the box.
Three minutes later Queen’s were level. Ross Mclean picked up a loose ball at the edge of the Hearts box, played a one-two with Tyrece McDonnell before slipping the ball to Jamie Bradley who hit the ball first time into the corner of the net.
In the 38th minute Ross Mclean was through on goal but bundled off the ball before he could get his shot away.
Half-time: Queen’s Park 1 Hearts 1
The young Spiders started the second half with determination. Two minutes into the half Tyrece McDonnell came close when he picked up a reverse pass from Jamie Bradley, headed for goal, but his shot narrowly missed the far post.
In the 52nd minute Dom Brady, who was looking on form down the left side, beat his defender and has a shot from 16 yards out only to see the ball just miss the target.
This was much better from the young Queen’s side now.
Two minutes later Sam Kane pulled off a great block when Heart’s McLuckie was through on goal.
In the 57th minute the Tynecastle side had the ball in the net but the assistant referee’s flag was raised for off-side.
Midway through the half Hears really upped the pressure on Queen’s but Sam Kane and the back line looked solid.
The Tynecastle pressure paid off in the 76th minute when Heart’s James Wilson intercepted a poor pass out from defence and knocked the ball into the net.
The young Spiders tried hard to get an equaliser but could find a way through the Hears rearguard.
Full-time: Queen’s Park 1 Hearts 2
Queen’s Park: Sam Kane, Leo Clark, Dom Brady, Darryl Carrick, Michael Collie, Liam McVey, Theo McCormick, Ross McLean, Conor Falls, Jamie Bradley, Tyrece McDonnell.
Subs: Daniel Mathieson, Alfie Lumsden, Jude Bell, Jayden Fitzpatrick, Josh Fitzpatrick, Lewis Burchill, Leo Fisher.
Hearts: Couper Wilkie, Alexander Walker, Kai Smuter, Taylor Hogarth, Rocco Friel, James Wilson, Bobby McLuckie, Harvey Chisholm, Matthew Gillies, Gus Stevenson, Lucas Smith.
Subs: Jack Lyon, Jamie Anderson, Louie Selfridge, Gregor Crookston, Owen Muirhead, Gregor Burn, Szymon Plesiewicz