Gillingham 1 - 2 Hearts: Substitute heads late winner as Hearts bounce back from Dunfermline disappointment

Published on Thursday 29 July 2010 11:50

IT took time, a full 45 minutes to be exact, but eventually Hearts found some pre-season rhythm in Kent last night by coming from behind to dispense with Gillingham 2-1. Arvydas Novikovas and Ismael Bouzid scored a goal each, cancelling out Luke Rooney's penalty in what was an inspired second-half display by Jim Jefferies' side.

Tuesday's 3-1 defeat by Dunfermline seemed to leave Hearts dispirited and they began this match against League Two opposition rather lethargically. However, a tactical alteration at the interval ensured they imposed themselves on proceedings. Novikovas, the Lithuanian winger, appeared to grow in strength as the night wore on, and David Templeton offered further evidence of his creativity by supplying the corner for Bouzid's headed winner having climbed off the substitutes' bench.

"It's a great battle for the left hand side," enthused Jefferies. "Driver is out at the moment, Templeton was outstanding on Tuesday but because we have the game tomorrow I decided to give Novikovas the game last night. We wanted to give him a bit of confidence. Once we got in about him and told him he can't just sit back and let a game pass him by, he did well and scored a great goal. When you see him in full flow he's exciting to watch. So is Templeton, so is Driver, and Suso is not short on skill.

"The pleasing thing was that, because Gillingham's season starts soon, they have played more games than us and they were up for it. The first half was quite tasty and we took a wee while to get into it. But I'll tell you what, we overran them in the second half. It was great to come back from probably the softest penalty I've ever seen. Our fitness has come on a ton and I think it was a good exercise to show that. It was a massive step up from Tuesday night."

In truth, Hearts were second best throughout the opening period. It was a much-changed team from that which surrendered meekly to Dunfermline. Lee Wallace appeared for the first time in this pre-season campaign following a calf complaint, while Janos Balogh, Bouzid, Suso and Novikovas also made the starting line-up. For Gillingham, the main attraction was recent signing Adebayo Akinfenwa, who began on the substitutes' bench.

The Priestfield Stadium, although significantly modernised, is a throwback to a bygone era when football teams were based at the heart of their local community. It is tucked away in the residential streets of Gillingham in much the same way Tynecastle fits snugly into Gorgie. Opposite the main stand sat a collection of Hearts supporters eager to witness the first outing of this two-game English trip.

The hosts started purposefully and were keen to utilise the pace and trickery of Andy Barcham on the right flank. His appeal for a 12th-minute penalty was unjustified as Wallace had executed a legitimate tackle on the winger despite being nutmegged seconds earlier beside the byline. Gillingham threatened again on 23 minutes when, from Stefan Payne's lay-off, Chris Palmer dispatched a left-footed shot which only narrowly avoided Balogh's crossbar.

Gillingham's 4-3-3 formation was proving problematical to Hearts, who lined up 4-1-4-1 with Calum Elliot occupying the lone striker's role. A neat passing interchange, again down the right, almost produced the opener when Curtis Weston's cross ball ricocheted off Adrian Mrowiec and rolled goalwards. Thankfully, Darren Barr was in position to prevent a certain goal. Balogh then held Weston's low driven effort after Suso had carelessly conceded possession inside his own half.

Headers from Bouzid and Marius Zaliukas plus a tame Elliot snapshot were Hearts' only attempts at goal throughout the first half. Only Elliot's was on target, prompting Jefferies to reorganise during the interval. He shunted Ryan Stevenson forward to partner Elliot and reverted to a conventional 4-4-2 formation.

"Stevenson was magnificent up front," noted the manager. "We're short of strikers, I took Elliot off to save him for Saturday in case David Obua doesn't make it. We tried one through the middle in the first half but it wasn't working and when we went back to 4-4-2 we were the better team. Stevenson was making challenges and we were winning throw-ins from it because he wasn't giving the centre-backs any space."

The industry of the former Ayr United player had the desired effect of imbuing Hearts with some much-needed impetus, but not before Gillingham moved ahead. Bouzid was ajudged to have pushed Stefan Payne to the ground inside the area and Rooney, a half-time substitute, confidently lashed the ball home from 12 yards. Two minutes later Novikovas restored parity, collecting a threaded pass from Stevenson and steering the ball beautifully beyond the Gillingham goalkeeper Alan Julian.

Hearts were now in the ascendancy as Elliot stung the palms of Julian with a vicious 18-yard drive. The striker certainly profited from Stevenson's support and the Hearts midfield looked more comfortable as a result, therefore it was somewhat surprising that Elliot was then replaced by Craig Thomson. As Jefferies explained afterwards, the substitution was precautionary given injuries to Gary Glen, Kevin Kyle and David Obua, but it left the unusual sight of Stevenson and Suso together in attack until Gordon Smith entered the fray late on. Gillingham introduced Akinfenwa and Mark McCammon in an effort to regain a foothold in proceedings, although they could not keep Hearts at bay. With six minutes remaining, Bouzid rose to glance home an unstoppable header from Templeton's corner. There were travelling fans on the park in celebration, followed by cries of "bring on the Millwall". This was certainly a welcome victory for the visitors from Edinburgh.

Gillingham (4-3-3): Julian (Cronin 80); Sinclair, Bentley, Gowling, Nutter (Lough 71); Spiller (Aborah 61), J Payne (Maher 46), Weston (Rooney 46); Barcham (McCammon 55), S Payne (Akinfenwa 55), Palmer (Jackman 61). Subs: White, Essam.

Hearts (4-1-4-1): Balogh; Barr, Bouzid, Zaliukas, Wallace; Mrowiec; Suso (Templeton 76), Jonsson (McGowan 71), Stevenson, Novikovas (Smith 76); Elliot (C Thomson 67). Sub: Kello.

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 2359.