Pictured is Hamish ‘Mighty Mouse’ Hunter of Musselburgh Grammar Schools’ Under 15 side with John Leask of ZOT Engineering (far left) and Hibs player Colin Nish (far right)

The first round of the Under 15 Scottish Schools FA Competition drew Edinburgh’s Forrester High School against East Lothian’s Under 14 league champions last season, Musselburgh Grammar School. Due to a lack of pitches in Edinburgh, the home side agreed to switch the venue to Musselburgh and travelled to Pinkie. 

The match started in anticipated nervous fashion with both sides squandering early possession. It took a 12 minute strike from Honest Toun forward Jack Kennedy to steady his team as he lashed home from 16 yards. Musselburgh enjoyed the bulk of the match and were patient in their build-up. It was four minutes prior to the interval that Kennedy’s hard-working striker, Stuart Lumsden, doubled Grammar’s lead as he raced free of the Edinburgh defence to slot home from within the penalty area. 

The half-time break gave the Forrester High players a lease of life as they came out fighting for their lives. It took them just three minutes to pull back the deficit as Miller charged through the centre of the Musselburgh midfield and defence to bullet a clinical shot low off the far post and into the net of home keeper Ryan Cossettini.

It was now a classic cup tie with both teams striving to dominate the centre of the park, the battle zone. Musselburgh surged ahead when a blatant pull on the Lumsden's jersey saw match official Alan Watson award Musselburgh a penalty kick. Chris Jamieson strode forward and unleashed a rocket from the spot which nearly scorched the netting as it thundered from his right boot.

It was a real setback for the visitors and they never really gained the impotence that they needed to get back into the game. Musselburgh substitute Dean Ferguson found himself goal bound after a fine passing  display opened up Forrester and his resultant effort flew high into the top corner of the goal; 4-1 Musselburgh. In form Jack Kennedy was to complete his hat-trick when he scored first with a header and then pouncing on a poor clearance in the 24^th and 25^th minute respectively.

The Edinburgh side had no reply and the score remained unaltered at the sound of the full-time whistle.

Assistant team coach Mike Scott said afterwards ‘It was a great team performance and not one player had a bad game, they all contributed and worked hard to pull off this tremendous result’.

Neutral spectator and youth football expert, Ian Mackay, who had travelled to watch the game added ‘Quite brilliant, the standard of play and discipline throughout the squad was one of the best I have seen in schools football’ - high praise indeed from a man who has watched thousands of games over years of covering youth football.

The Man of the Match award went to Hamish Hunter, centre midfield, as he led by example in his effort and commitment from the kick-off. This diminutive star has the heart of a lion and worked tirelessly to break up counter attacks and push his team forward. He was adjudged to be the ZOT Engineering Man of the Match. His size led him to be labelled ‘Mouse’ by his team mates, but his passion and bravely have led them to alter this and he is now more commonly referred to as Mighty Mouse!

Musselburgh face another stiff challenge as they travel to Linlithgow academy in the second round tie.