Hearts edge Lichties in Gayfield friendly

ARBROATH 1 HEARTS 2

Hearts’ first visit to Gayfield for 35 years ended with a victory but the hosts can take great credit for this entertaining friendly.

Arbroath assistant manager Ian Campbell felt the game ticked all the boxes for his side.

He said: “It’s all about getting ready for the league in August so this will help get our guys up to full fitness.”

Australian Oliver Boranic almost gave Hearts a dream start within the opening 90 seconds with a shot which crashed off the underside of the bar.

Arbroath responded with Bobby Linn forcing a good save from trialist keeper Kevin Silva.

Soon after keeper Darren Jamieson, making his Lichties debut, had to be alert to stop Steven MacLean from netting.

At the other end Linn sent a shot narrowly beyond the far post and Silva did well to block Danny Denholm’s volley.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock two minutes before the interval when Irishman Aidan Keena latched on to a long ball and calmly slotted low beyond Jamieson.

Levein fielded a completely different XI for the second half led by Scotland international Christophe Berra, while Arbroath used five of their seven subs.

The changes resulted in Hearts taking control of the game but without creating any serious scoring opportunities.

During a short spell of Hearts pressure Jamieson came to Arbroath’s rescue when saving a header, while Berra blasted the follow up against the bar.

Any doubts over the outcome were settled six minutes from the final whistle when Ross Callachan stroked home a second for Hearts.

Kane Hester gave the home fans something to cheer with the best goal of the night in the final minute.

The young striker collected the ball on the halfway line and burst down the left, shrugging aside a number of challenges, before cutting into the box and guiding the ball into the far corner of the Hearts net.