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Back in the day:
27th October 1992 - Hearts vs. Dundee United
You may think that
this was a pointless game to write about as a classic game. Hell, this was
a game of no real significance. It was just a normal league game with just
2 points at stake (it was 1992 after all). It was significant for yours trully,
though, as it was game number one of many in the Kirkwood regime of attending
Hearts games. Indeed it was a pretty dire game, in retrospect. It was a extremely
mundane first half. The only chance went Hearts way. Derek Ferguson's long
ball was met by John Robertson, who got in behind Freddie Van Hoorn. Unfortunately,
his shot clipped the post on its way wide of target. The second half was not
much better. It was almost made worse for Hearts, when a thinner, but just
as rank Mixu Paatelainen found himself in space, but his shot deflected of
Peter
Van de Ven and into the safe arms of Henry Smith. Hearts managed to get the
only goal of the game with 8 minutes remaining. Tommy Harrison's corner was
flicked on at the near post by Craig Levein, and was headed into
the net by (Levein's 'best friend') Greame Hogg. The win meant that Hearts
were able to extend their gap above United, and remain in 4th place behind
Rangers, Aberdeen and Celtic.
More
games to come, the Webmaster cannot write about his first HMFC game because
it was a 0-4 thrashing against Sellick!
Febuary 20 1994
Tennents Scottish Cup Round 4
Hibs vs. Hearts
The rarity of an Edinburgh derby in the Scottish cup made this an extra
spwcial occasion,
and Easter Road was packed. Even I was in attendance, sitting on one of the
terracing beams.
I wasn't there for long, though. After two minutes, Tosh McKinlay whipped in
a cross to the
near post, and John Robertson headed the ball past Jim Leighton and into the
net (not for
the first, or last time in his career). Hearts looked to increase their
lead, but struggled
to beat an uncharacteristically in-form Leighton.
Into the second half, Hearts again failed to take chances, and paid for it
just before the
hour mark. Keith Wright managed to break away from the Hearts defence, and
slotted the ball
past Henry Smith into the far corner. Possession went back and forth after
that, and it
looked like this match was heading to a replay. That thought never entered
the mind of a
Hearts substitute who was about to make himself a legend. In injury time, a
long ball from
Tosh McKinlay sailed towards the Hibs penalty area. Step forward Wayne
Foster. The
substitute took the ball past Gordon Hunter, and took his time before firing
the ball
through the legs of Jim Leighton and into the net. The new Hearts legend
then lept into the
fence to be with the jubulent Hearts support, acknowledging his new God-like
status.
The final whistle sounded immediately after Hibs restarted the match. Hearts
had not just
made it through to the quarter finals to meet Rangers at Ibrox, but they had
once again
overcome their greatest rivals, making it 21 games since Hibs last tasted
victory against
the Jambos.
For great pictures of that day, and information of other games in the 22 in
a row run,
visit London Hearts, and their 22 in a row tribute at www.londonhearts.com