Foster and Sow make comebacks in ‘mini-Derby’

JORDON Forster and Osman Sow turned out for their respective clubs as Hibs went down 3-2 to Hearts in the Development League last night at Ainslie Park.

Both Forster and Sow played the opening 45 minutes as a strong Hearts team led by Jack Ross containing James Keatings, Brad McKay, Jordan McGhee, Billy King and new signing Jake Hutchings saw off their Hibernian counterparts 3-2 thanks to a late penalty winner from McKay.

Sow came through the first half unscathed in his first appearance in three months as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury while Forster has had a similar three-month layoff.

Forster was the only first-team player to line up for the Hibernian side, who fielded new signing Aaron Scott against his old club.

The 17-year-old lined up in a relatively youthful Hibs side, and they went behind in the 11th minute after Keatings latched onto a kick out from Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton before lobbing the ball over Kleton Perntreou from the edge of the box.

Scott Martin hit the bar for Hibs with 25 minutes gone, but Joe McBride’s side equalised 10 minutes after half time, Lewis Allan converting a penalty after Hamilton was penalised for fouling Martin.

Hibs took the lead less than five minutes later, Conor Duthie finding the net with a powerful effort from 20 yards.

But Hearts hit back just six minutes later, Keatings again beating Perntreou, this time with a free kick at the near post.

Both sides went in search of a winner, with McKay heading straight at Perntreou and Neil Martyniuk firing just wide.

Perntreou had to look lively to tip a shot from Hearts sub Ali Roy on to the post, and Aaron Dunsmore cleared a Gary Oliver shot off the line with time running out.

But Hearts had the final say in the match, watched by a crowd of over 700, as Jordan McGregor was adjudged to have fouled McKay in the box following a corner from King.

Hibs protested that the centre half had handled the ball before being fouled, but their claims fell on deaf ears and McKay sent Perntreou the wrong way to snatch a last-gasp victory for Hearts.

The wee Jambos remain 12 points behind their Edinburgh rivals in the Development League despite the victory.

Hibs: Perntreou, Dunsmore, Forster (McGregor 46), Martyniuk, Stirling, Scott, Martin, Duthie, Crane, Allan, Hendry. Subs not used: Brennan, Smith, Waugh, McKee.

Hearts: Hamilton, Hutchings, McGhee (I Smith 57), McKay, L Smith, Baxter, Henderson, King, Oliver, Keatings (Roy 78), Sow (Gordon 46). Subs not used: Mason, Irving, Baur.