On a cold and windy Saturday morning Edina Hibs were welcomed to Gairdoch park by the home side warming up chanting “get into them” and for the next 70 minutes they did their best to live up to their mantra.

Although Edina may have felt aggrieved at having to play this replay after losing an equaliser with the final kick of the ball last week it was Gairdoch who appeared to have the confidence and attitude needed in teams to progress so far in the Scottish Cup. 

In a game that lacked out and out scoring chances the two best players not surprisingly were two defenders. The surprising thing maybe that they were the tallest and smallest players on the park. Edinas William McPhee (tallest) and Gairdochs Aarron Watters (smallest) marshalled their respective defences in a way that allowed both keepers I am sure an unexpectedly quiet time.

Have won the toss and taken centre Gairdoch passed that ball well for the first 5 minutes with nearly ever ball going through their composed midfielder Harry Extance, but for all their position it was Edina who had the first sight a goal from a corner and it was towering centre half McPhee who although connected was unable to direct it goal ward. 

As halftime approached Gairdoch were awarded a free kick in the centre circle after Jordan Brown had upended Darren Mason for the games first real foul and one which got the busy Brown a yellow card. The ball was then floated into the box and after a couple of headers back and forward fell to Jordanlee Scobbie who’s lofted header beat the Edina goalie but not Ryan Henderson who headed clear.

In the final piece of action in the first half Louis Luke was unlucky when he broke away from his marker by executing the perfect “maradona turn” only to shoot weakly straight at the keeper.

Half Time 0-0

It was Edina’s turn to start the second half and also to start the stronger and although a good run from left back Sam Nicol, his first real forward run of the day, produced a corner, there was no evidence of the flowing passing football that Edina have been praised for this season.

A forced substitution was then required by Edina with the heavily bandaged Ryan Henderson being replaced at centre half by midfielder Connor Welsh and within minutes they found themselves behind.

A good run by Extance was halted when his legs were taken away from him just as he was about to shoot. Cries of penalty from the home support went unheard by referee Logan, travelling again from paisley to take charge of this game for the second time in a week, and he further annoyed the home support by having a word with the bemused player. However from the resulting throw-in Gairdochs nippy little No15 was sandwiched between two Edina players and justice was seen to be done with the referee this time awarding a spot kick.

It is unlikely at this age level that players will practice spot kicks and indeed practice does not give the same pressures as the real thing, but up stepped Jordanlee Scobbie to coolly slot the ball away and put the home fans on to cloud nine. 

This was the spark needed to put life into Edina and Ross Anderson was unlucky 5 minutes later to see a dragged shot drift by the post. Edina made further changes in an attempt to get level and it was good to see all the boys getting a game. Although they may have made changes at half time when they retreated back to their changing room Gairdoch appeared to make their first and only substitution 10 minutes from the end when the battered and bruised Extance went into one to may 50/50. Although part of the team I wonder if the unused subs still felt the same joy as the boys  who got some game time.

And although camped in their own half for the final 15 minutes Gairdoch had the best chance to get the next goal. A long clearance by Gairdoch was only half cleared on the back foot by Edina and Jordanlee Scobbie stepped up to unleash a half volley from 25 yards. With the home support celebrating a certain goal Daniel Kerr somehow managed to get his fingertips on it to force the ball on to the underside of the bar and down onto the line. With cries of goal being shouted from the home coaches the referee had the benefit of his linesman who confirmed the ball had not crossed the line.

The final shot of the day went to George Hairs of Edina who shot directly at Andrew Cramb in the Gairdoch goal and when the referee blew for full time Cramb lifted the ball above his head to celebrate. Gairdoch Park living up to it reputation of a graveyard for Edinburgh teams.