Hearts B vs BRFC Match Report 2024-25
Berwick’s unbeaten Lowland League start was ended by a clinical Hearts B on a frustrating night at Ainslie Park.
On an evening where Berwick lost Alfie Robinson and Lewis Barr to injury, Bobby McLuckie’s hat trick helped the ruthless Wee Jambos to a 6-1 victory.
Thomas Scobbie opted for three changes from the side that exited the SPFL Trust Trophy in midweek – Max McGinley, Arran Laidlaw and Cai MacNamara replaced by Jonny Devers, Matty Collins and Alan Cook.
Hearts didn’t have a game in midweek and their rested legs almost helped them get off to the perfect start within the first 60 seconds when Mackenzie Ross slipped in Finlay Pollock but he was denied by Callum Antell’s feet.
Berwick worked themselves back into the game and had a couple of opportunities to score when Liam Buchanan worked some space in the area but could only hit the side netting before Cook launched a free kick from 60 yards just wide of the post with Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald beaten.
However, it would be the home side that would get the opener. A ball down the left gave Antell a decision to make but a moment of indecision let McLuckie get to it and roll the ball across to Ross to tap it home.
Despite the early setback, Berwick kept the hosts at arm’s length and looked dangerous on the break. Nice football from Berwick around the box carved out a chance for Buchanan but his effort was brilliantly blocked by Adam Forrester.
The Berwick players will no doubt have been frustrated to have been behind at the break but felt they could get something from the game but those hopes began to fade just a couple of minutes into the second half. A ball from the back sent Pollock racing away down the right and his low cross to the back post found McLuckie, who finished past Antell.
It would be another ball in behind that would be Berwick’s undoing just before the hour mark, with McLuckie racing onto it and slotting it past Antell.
Yet another chance led to a fourth for the hosts. Ross picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal and played a lovely pass through to Ryan Duncan, who slotted it past Antell with the outside of his boot.
The introduction of Laidlaw had given Berwick some more impetus up front and, with 20 minutes to go, he pulled one back. A ball found the striker on the right of the box and, despite looking like he might get crowded out, he brilliantly lobbed MacDonald to give Berwick a glimmer of hope.
That hope was extinguished five minutes later when McLuckie completed his hat trick. Yet another ball down the right sent Pollock scampering clear and his back post cross from fired home by McLuckie.
Berwick kept pushing but the misery was compounded when Barr had to go off after going down with a non-contact injury right before Hearts grabbed a sixth. Another long ball over the top sent substitute Owen Muirhead in behind and, with Antell expecting to see an offside flag, he beat the keeper to the ball and rolled it into an empty net.
There’s no respite for Berwick either with attention now turning to Tuesday night when University of Stirling visit Shielfield in more Lowland League action.
