Jambos suffer a sob Rory
Last-gasp strike hero breaks Hearts
HEARTS handed the initiative to Dunfermline ahead of Saturday’s Group B deciders after a late Rory McAllister winner at Peterhead saw them slump to an embarrassing defeat.
The League Two club got the result of the tournament so far and took huge credit from a feisty and adventurous display.
Defeat for Ian Cathro’s men left Allan Johnston’s Pars two points ahead of both Hearts and Peterhead as they head to Tynecastle at the weekend.
Jason Brown headed the hosts in front after only six minutes before Kyle Lafferty’s fourth goal in three matches for the Gorgie club levelled matters 11 minutes later.
But McAllister pounced from the penalty spot inside stoppage time to heap huge pressure on Cathro and his team.
The Premiership side lacked spark throughout, although Rangers target Jamie Walker struck the bar late on.
Peterhead, keen to make amends for their heavy defeat at Dunfermline, started well and almost took the lead in the third minute after Christophe Berra hauled Rory McAllister down just outside the box. However, Willie Gibson’s curling free-kick from the award was just wide of Jack Hamilton’s left-hand post.
Moments later, Jordan McGhee was forced to make a goal-line clearance to deny McAllister but Hearts fell behind from the resulting corner in the sixth minute.
Gibson’s delivery found Jason Brown and the former Caley Thistle youngster headed beyond the diving Hamilton.
Cathro’s men started to settle and Ismael Goncalves fired a 12-yard shot wide after being picked out by Lafferty. The visitors got on level terms in the 18th minute, with Lafferty producing the goods. Walker sent Michael Smith away down the right and when the full-back’s cross was pushed away by keeper Greg Fleming, the Northern Ireland international fired home.
Peterhead were still asking questions of their Premiership opponents, though, and Hamilton had to look lively to beat away a McAllister free-kick in the 28th minute.
Fleming then pulled off a smart stop to keep out a Walker drive and as half-time approached Goncalves fired a shot over.
Peterhead started the second half as they had the first as Jamie Stevenson linked with Scott Brown but he could not keep his shot down. McAllister then wasted a chance when he headed Gibson’s free-kick over in the 63rd minute.
Hearts replaced Prince Buaben with Arnoud Djoum midway through the second period and Goncalves had a sight of goal in the 70th minute only for Scott Ross to make a block.
Another Ross interception denied Djoum in the 78th minute but Goncalves should have given Hearts the lead in the 81st minute when he barged his way past Simon Ferry but he delayed his shot and Brown was able to make a block.
The woodwork then denied Walker before Peterhead came up with a 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot.
Sub Jordon Brown was bundled over in the box by Djoum and McAllister sent Hamilton the wrong way to blow the group wide open.