Eight-goal thriller delights Samuel but McGlynn rages

Two goals by Callum 
Tapping deep into stoppage time salvaged a penalty shoot-out, which saw Hearts win 8-7.

McGlynn, however, took little joy from that. He said: “I am not happy, we shouldn’t lose goals like that to a team in a lower league.

“We gave some of the young guys a chance and they have let Hearts down badly. They let everyone down by not being as professional as they should have been.

“I was worried by the 
performance as the game went on. We should be scoring four goals but we shouldn’t be in a position of being 4-2 down in the closing minutes.”

Spartans manager Douglas Samuel, meanwhile, was delighted by the performance of his team last night, as his side looked comfortable throughout. He said: “We were playing a full-time team tonight and I was delighted with the effort shown by the boys.

“We were well organised kept a good shape, didn’t panic and our confidence grew. Overall I am very pleased with the team. I thought we had gone deep enough into injury time to win it but Hearts pulled two goals back in a few minutes.

“I am grateful to John 
McGlynn for bringing down his first team tonight.”

Spartans took the lead in the opening minutes through Jack Beesley and Mark Whatley doubled Spartans lead with an excellent scissor-kick on the edge of the box, but Gordon Smith pulled one back for Hearts just before the interval with a shot that nestled low in the corner.

After the break Spartans scored another through Andy 
Martin, but Ryan Stevenson brought Hearts back into the game.

Sean Wringe then looked to have sealed victory with a late goal, but there was more drama when Callum Tapping picked up the ball and from 30 yards his powerful shot whistled home. One minute later and Tapping got his second after a scramble to take the game into penalties.

Spartans: Gilpin, O’Donnell, Cenarrazzo, Sivewright, McCuish, Manson, Beesley, Whatley, Finnie, Anderson, Henretty subs: Wringe, McLeod, Grant, Martin, Bremmer, Mair, Flockhart.

Hearts: McDonald, D McGowan, McHattie, Prychyenko, McKay, Stevenson, Walker, Holt, Smith, Carrick, Driver subs: Taouil, Hamilton, Paterson, Tapping, Robinson, B King, A King, Nicolson.