Hearts 4 - 3 Hearts Select (1998/2006): Neilson clocks up ten years in style

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 22:33

THE feelgood factor returned to Tynecastle yesterday as Hearts players past and present joined a crowd of 7,919 to wallow in nostalgia and pay tribute to Robbie Neilson for his ten years of service to the club.

The occasion of the loyal right-back's testimonial match provided a refreshingly uplifting afternoon for a Hearts support beleaguered by the current predicament of their club, as most of the heroes from the Scottish Cup-winning teams of 1998 and 2006 returned to Gorgie to face the much-maligned present team. Unsurprisingly, given some of the waistlines and silver hair displayed by the '98 legends, the current crop won 4-3, much to the chagrin of the crowd, who clearly wanted to make a point against the current regime by supporting the old guard, who were managed by Jim Jefferies.

Neilson, 27, played the entire 90 minutes for the cup winners, with the team made up of '98 players and captained by the outstanding, but corpulent, Steve Fulton in the first half, before the more athletic 2006 side came on for the second half. By then they were 3-0 behind to a Kestutis Ivaskevicius goal and a Jamie Mole double which had been greeted with muted applause, but strikes from Michal Pospisil, Rudi Skacel, who was at his extravagant best as he played up to the crowd, and Neilson himself, from the penalty spot, brought raucous celebrations. Fernando Screpis scored what proved to be the winner.

Highlights of the day included Fulton's surging run and shot, Gary Mackay's reckless tackle on Christophe Berra, forward Jim Hamilton's cameo at centre-back and the glorious late chance legendary striker John Robertson spurned to make it 4-4.

But one of the biggest roars of the day was reserved for 2006 captain Steven Pressley, who stepped off the bench in the second half and, in typical fashion, cajoled his team-mates through the closing stages of the friendly match as if it were a cup final.