Hibs rout Hearts 3-0 to win EoS Shield

Hibs lifted the East of Scotland shield for the ninth consecutive year when they defeated Hearts 3-0 last night at Tynecastle, a victory that manager David McMillan was “delighted” with.

Both Under-17 teams had chances in the opening half hour and Hibs almost took the lead when Callum Crane played a delicate chip into the Hearts box and found Jamie Beaton, who controlled the ball but shot wide of the mark.

However, Hibs did find a breakthrough on the half-hour mark when a ball was whipped in and not cleared by the Hearts defence and this allowed Lewis Allan, who was unmarked at the back post, the simple task of firing the ball into the net.

Hearts almost levelled almost instantly with a 40-yard freekick, but Sean Brennan was equal and pulled of a great save.

Hibs almost got a second goal after some terrific build-up play and when the ball fell at the feet of Max Todd he fired in a shot which just went over the bar.

Jack Simpson then came close for Hearts just before the interval when he went on a great run and cut into the Hibs box, but Brennan was again alert and made the save.

Hearts posed danger early in the second half when their 
skipper, Angus Beith, sent a free-kick just over the bar. Hibs took notice of their latest let-off and got their second of the night soon after. They were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal and Jordan Sinclair stepped up and placed his shot round the wall and the ball nestled low in the corner of the net, leaving Jordan Miller with no chance of saving it.

A few minutes later, Hibs got their third when Beaton went on a great run down the wing and he crossed to find Dominic Docherty in the box, who rose above his marker and his 
powerful header rocketed into the net.

An ecstatic Hibs manager David McMillan said: “We are delighted to have won it. We played really well, but we can play better. The boys were nervous – it was a tense occasion for them. I am pleased for the boys as we played really well in patches. We defended really well.

I am delighted to have won the shield for the ninth year in a row we are delighted a club to win it. We had a number of our Under-16s in the squad and I was really happy with the way they played.

“The squad has a long way to go and they have a lot to learn. They have potential to do well and go and make a living out of the game – it’s occasions like this when they need to step up to the mark and I was happy with the way they performed on the night.”

McMillan concluded: “It’s been a long season that was our 46th game this season and overall I am very happy with the season and I am delighted that we won tonight.”

Hearts: Miller, Smith, Ford, Wilson, Gordon, Beith, Simpson (Cockburn 82), Scott, Buchanan, McKirdy, Daniels (Flanagan 56). Unsused subs: Sneddon, Lewis, Craigie

Hibs: Brennan, Bauld, Porcher (Docherty 56), Sinclair, Martyniuk, Dunsmore, Beaton (Chitamere 80), Crane, Allan (Court 72), Martin, Todd. Unused subs: Ashelby, Watson