Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Hearts goalie Stone grateful for “real life” experience at Rovers
Hearts goalkeeper Harry Stone says moving to Albion Rovers on loan will give him enormous experience when he heads back to Tynecastle at the end of this season.
Stone impressed in the 1-1 draw with Annan Athletic on Saturday, under the watchful eye of coach John Rankin, and says the‘real life’experience will stand him in good stead, having been playing in academy games for the Edinburgh giants.
Sub Sam Jamieson’s last-gasp equaliser rescued what could be an important point for Brian Reid’s men, having fallen behind to Iain Anderson’s spectacular overhead kick opener.
And Stone , who signed a fortnight ago, says he’s happy to be thrown in to the cut and thrust world of League Two.
He said:“i’m happy with my performance. I always come and try to be commanding in my box, and I think I was that. I had a few saves, so I was happy.
“When a goal goes in like that I think sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say it’s a good goal.
“The loan move is great. The most important thing for me as a young goalkeeper is just getting game-time under my belt, in a man’s game.
“I’ve come from playing academy games and it’s completely different going into an environment like this, so I think it’s just great to get that experience under my belt.
“This is much more like real life, and more like what I’m going to be exposed to later on.”
Stone was happy with a point, but believes they could have got more out of the game.
The 18-year-old, who played once for Hearts’colts team in the Challenge Cup last season, said:“it was good to get the point at the end.
“We could have done better, I think we were lucky to nick the point, but we should have scored before having to rely on getting that last-minute goal.
“Overall, I think it was a good performance and I think that point could be very important, come the end of the season.
“It would have been a frustrating defeat, considering we had so many chances in the game to score, and get the full three points, but we’re happy with the draw.”