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Bo'ness United's fourth friendly in the space of six days inevitably ended with tired legs aplenty for the home side, allowing the Hearts XI to put a gloss on this scoreline with two late goals as the rain pelted down in the second half - however, there is little doubt that the right side won.
A bright opening saw both sides enjoy chances in the first quarter of an hour, with both goalkeepers having to produce good saves. However, as the half wore on, it was Neil Binnie in the Bo'ness goal who was more regularly called upon, replying in fine style with a number of superb saves. The BUs' unconvincing defence was again a major factor, with an uncoordinated offside trap presenting the visitors with more than one opportunity. Hearts, indeed, should certainly have scored when their No.9 beat the linesman's flag, took the ball past Binnie, but was forced too wide by the goalkeeper and could not in the end turn his shot on target. Hearts, on the other hand, looked a more difficult unit to break down. Bo'ness, although playing some neat football in the middle of the park in the first half, appeared to lack the guile to work their way past the back four.
It was no surprise when, ten minutes into the second period, Hearts did manage to score. Getting numbers forward, and looking composed on the ball going forward, an effort from twelve yards out finally found its way past the defence and the goalkeeper. As the rain began to fall in a manner reminiscent of the awful conditions in the 6-1 defeat to Motherwell, and the strain of the four matches in recent days began to seriously tell on the defence, Hearts rounded off an impressive victory with two more goals in the final five minutes.
With this first goal, and Bo'ness' lack of real scoring opportunities, there was an inevitability about the final outcome of the match. As the rain began to fall in a manner reminiscent of the awful conditions in the 6-1 defeat to Motherwell, and the strain of the four matches in recent days began to seriously tell on the defence, Hearts rounded off an impressive victory with two more goals in the final five minutes, the damage done down the left flank (where Gary Smith, virtually ever-present in the last three games, must have been gasping for air), giving the substitute goalkeeper little chance.
At least there was more encouragement to derive from this fixture than from the Motherwell meeting - the midfield held their own for large periods of the game, and Neil Binnie looked at something like his best in goal. But with another friendly at Cumnock on the Saturday before the League Cup kick-off the following Wednesday, coach Sludden will be hoping his players can recover from this week's exertions before the serious stuff gets underway.
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