Spartans 1-2 Heart of Midlothian: Late goal spares visitors' blushes in Scottish Cup
- Published
Highlights: Spartans 1-2 Hearts
Hearts scored in stoppage-time to squeeze past Spartans and into the Scottish Cup fifth round after James Craigen's stunning leveller for the League 2 side looked like forcing extra time.
Frankie Kent's header ultimately proved the difference after Craigen's remarkable volley had brought the hosts level.
Craigen cushioned his fine strike past Craig Gordon - ending his 13-month injury absence in the visiting goal - just after the hour to cancel out Kenneth Vargas' early header.
However, Kent's 93rd-minute goal edged eight-time winners Hearts into Sunday's draw for the last 16.
Much of the preamble to Hearts' first competitive match of the season centred around Lawrence Shankland's future, with the 28-year-old offered a new contract amid reported interest from Rangers among others.
The forward sat out Friday's training and remained unavailable for duty as Hearts made the short journey across Edinburgh.
Hearts took little time to settle at Ainslie Park and Jorge Grant's inswinging cross from the left set up Vargas for a fine headed finish.
Gordon's long-awaited return would not be a quiet one. The 41-year-old was forced to tip over a fierce long-range drive from former Hibernian left-back Callum Booth before dealing with Ayrton Sonkur's close-range header.
Watch: Spartans' Craigen's fabulous volley against Hearts
Jamie Dishington could not keep his effort down after setting himself outside the Hearts box and Vargas drew a fine close-range save from keeper Blair Carswell moments later.
The impressive Carswell foiled Vargas again early in the second period, the attacker's effort from wide on the left bringing out the best in the home favourite.
On-loan Wolves full-back Dexter Lembikisa, 20, and 16-year-old forward James Wilson made their Hearts debuts as replacements for Yutaro Oda and Kyosuke Tagawa.
But just as Hearts were looking to put the game to bed, Spartans sprung a surprise in style.
Booth's corner from the right was headed back to him and his perhaps fortuitous delivery with the outside of the boot set up Craigen beautifully for a sweet finish.
With no VAR in use, a potential offside against Booth could not be checked. Not that Spartans cared.
At this stage, Hearts might have panicked. Grant almost put them back in front when his free-kick dipped wide before the midfielder was blocked at point-blank range by Carswell.
And the keeper's heroics continued in added time with a near-post save to deny Lembikisa.
But, from the corner, Alex Cochrane's delivery was converted by Kent to spare Hearts' blushes.
What they said
Spartans manager Dougie Samuel: "It's a huge sense of pride. We asked them to stay in the game, we asked them to score a meaningful goal and they did both of those things and they've created a special memory for the Spartans family.
"[The late goal is] a sore one for all of us, but the overriding emotion is one of pride."
Hearts head coach Steven Naismith: "We never panicked, we just kept doing the same things. We recognised what was getting us good opportunities in the final third. The calmness to the end is pleasing. We knew it was going to be tough.
"This is cup competition, we made the players very aware of this. There's no VAR, you need to understand what's coming. It was a very good goal from them."
Spartans goalkeeper Blair Carswell: "It was unfortunate we lost a late goal. It would've been good to get a draw for 90 minutes. I've been a lifelong Jambo so it was good to get out there and play.
"Just to stay in the game was a great achievement. It's good to see [Craig Gordon] back as well."
Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon: "It's great to get back. It's been a long time. [Zander Clark and I will] be fighting hard to be the one the manager goes with.
"It's good competition, and we are lucky to have the amount of goalkeepers we have and the quality we have got, so now it's up to us to show that on the pitch."
Watch: Vargas goal give Hearts lead over Spartans
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