Referee brandishes six yellows and a red

Devlin has only returned to football in the past few weeks after enjoying an extended holiday abroad and the former Spartans striker is fast regaining his love for the game.

"That was only my second 90 minutes of the season and it feels really good to be back," he said. "Obviously I was pleased to score with my first penalty but disappointed with my second although their goalkeeper made a good save. The result was the main thing and we now need to start climbing the table."

Tynecastle goalkeeper John Gilbertson and midfielder Ross Elliot both failed late fitness tests while Whitehill gave a debut to central defender Steven Robertson.

It took Tynecastle only five minutes to open the scoring. Captain Wayne McIntosh threaded a superb pass into to the left channel. Paul Devlin's powerful low drive was well blocked by goalkeeper Youssef Bejaoui, but youngster Dale O'Hara, who is on loan from Hearts, netted the rebound from 12 yards.

Scott Gormley caused the Tynecastle defence several problems with his pace and he went close on a couple of occasions before he eventually turned into the goal provider. He lifted a beautifully-weighted pass to Ross Allum, who took off and rounded goalkeeper Ross McMullen before he slipped the ball into the empty net.In the 32nd minute, the game disintegrated into a farce for a spell. First, the referee awarded a penalty for an alleged push by Darren Aird on Scott Gormley. It was an incident missed by most observers and resulted in Aird, McMullen, McIntosh and Eddie Mearns all being shown yellow cards for protesting. The delay didn't bother Devlin, who eventually struck the spot kick home by sending McMullen the wrong way.

O'Hara continued the protests after the goal and he was subsequently shown a yellow card. In the Tynecastle technical area, manager Murray Balloch summoned the referee across and asked why a penalty had been awarded.

When informed it was for a push, Tynecastle's assistant manager, David Bingham, laughed and he was ordered out of the area and on to the terracing. At the same time, Tynecastle's substitute goalkeeper John Gilbertson also grimaced and he too was given a yellow card. A total of six yellow and one red card in a mad two minutes.

Midway through the second half, Steven Sives did push William Kidd in the area and a second penalty was awarded to Whitehill. Devlin changed his side and McMullen dived low to his right to make a good save.

Tynecastle almost equalised in stoppage time when a McIntosh corner was headed narrowly over the bar by Williams but Whitehill picked up all three points to move them into fifth position in the table.

Stuart McKean, the Whitehill manager in the absence of Paul Cavanagh, who was spying on next week's Scottish Cup opponents, Wick Academy, said: "Tynecastle started the better and we were disappointed to concede that early goal. Then we equalised and I thought that we were on top before we were awarded a dubious penalty – some you get, some you don't.

"After that I thought that we defended well and created chances. It was hard fought but we kept to our game plan and it worked so we are delighted with all three points. It gives us a real lift going into next week's game."

Murray Balloch, the Tynecastle boss, said: "We started nice and bright and squeezed Whitehill high up the park. The award of the penalty and the subsequent yellow cards effectively killed things for us. I know these situations are frustrating but players have to keep their discipline. I cannot fault the players for their efforts and they can certainly keep their heads up."

Whitehill Welfare: Bejaoui, Cornet, Morrison, W Kidd, McGlashan, Taylor (Hall 60), Gormley (Caddow 67), A Kidd, Allum, Robertson, Devlin. Subs: Adamson, Lunn, Haldane.

Tynecastle: McMullen, Aird, Thom, Sives, Williams, McCormack, Mearns (Dobson, 72), Devlin, McIntosh, Knight (Elliot, 77), O'Hara (Paterson, 46). Subs: Young, Gilbertson.

Whitehill Welfare 2

Tynecastle 1