■ Michael Jenkins sweeps home North Merchiston's third goal at Harrison Park

Every so often in youth football you come across an oasis of sanity where the total football emphasis is on the young players within the white lined pitch. Harrison Park was one such place on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. It was becalming. Almost unnatural. Then you remember that this is really what it should be like everywhere.

A large crowd had turned up to take in the early autumn rays and to cheer on their offspring. And yet their was little noise. The coaches were calm and considered in any instructions they needed to impart. And the parents simply enjoyed the game and let the boys and their coaches get on with it.

The impact and effect on the young players on the pitch was that they could concentrate entirely on playing football. No noisy touchlines. No coaches shouting at them or each other. No parents bawling at them or each other. In fact all the parents, coaches and substitutes congregated on the one side of the pitch, further enhancing the positive atmosphere.

It was eerily quiet and yet inspiring. At the end of the game, referee Jim Markey also commented on it. "Isn't it brilliant when you just get a great game of football without abuse from the side of the pitch. Wasn't it a terrific game?"

Within the big white perimeter lines, 22 young boys showed off their considerable footballing skills. Calm and constrained they went about their business as the touchline ethos flowed positively into their game. North Merchiston were the better side and dominated this game from the off. Unfortunately I don't have possession and territorial stats like you get on the TV but I would estimate it was 70/30 possession and 90/10 in terms of territory in the opening half.

In fact it was 60 minutes before Inch Colts got their first shot on target, such was the dominance of the home side. That is not to say that Inch didn't show some good play. There were some good defensive performances most notably from Conor Barclay, who I thought had a fine game in the centre of the Inch back four. There was also some excellent passages of interplay between forwards and midfield, it just all happened too far from goal.

As a result, when it did break down, North Merchiston consistently found themselves in an advanced position and able to exploit opportunities more fully. And that they did.

Just 3 minutes had gone when Nathan Evans gave early warning of his menace when he nipped in ahead of Chris Burt but his flick went into the side netting. But the wee forward only had to wait a further 2 minutes before getting the opening goal. A shot from distance by the highly influential Calum Young wasn't gathered properly by the Inch goalkeeper and Evans was on hand to hit home.

Merchi went on to pummel the Inch goalmouth and Calum Young, Nathan Evans, Josh Kerr and Jake MacDonald all had chances that either just missed or were saved by Chris Burt. It was Jake MacDonald that was on hand however on 17 minutes to double the home side's lead when he slotted home a poorly cleared free kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

MacDonald, Jake Kerr and Calum Young were running things in midfield and Inch were finding it difficult to get out of their half. The home side had a further chance on 26 minutes when a great cross from Jake MacDonald was met square by Josh Kerr but his side footed shot crashed off the cross bar and away to safety.

North Merchiston's lead was extended to three goals a minute later however with a well taken goal. Blonde haired Michael Jenkins collected a through ball in the left channel, rounded the goalkeeper and shot home past the recovering defenders.

It looked like it was game over and it almost was for sure just before half time when giant defender Ben Robbins' free header from a corner narrowly went past the Inch right hand post.

Half Time 3-0

I can't pay a high enough tribute to the Inch coaching group. Not once did they criticise their side and they calmly re-grouped the boys to try and make a better show of it in the second 35 minutes. They clearly instilled confidence in the players, encouraging them to take the ball short at the back and play football on the ground, despite the fact that it broke down as the strong North Merchiston defence were able to assert their presence.

But Inch came out and put on a terrific second half display, taking the game to their opponents and enjoyed more territory and possession as a result.

But it was Merchi that continued to look more threatening and on 38 minutes Michael Jenkins almost put them four ahead with a vicious shot that was brilliantly saved at almost point blank range by replacement keeper, Kris MacDonald. MacDonald went onto have several good saves in the second period.

The home side went 4-0 up on 49 minutes when the ever busy Nathan Evans calmly slotted home a great over the top ball from 16 yards giving the Inch goalkeeper no chance. It was an excellent finish from this good forward player who exuded confidence in his play. Indeed as he celebrated his goal with his back to me he pointed his thumbs at the rear top of his shirt seemingly forgetting that the word "EVANS" hadn't been printed on it yet!

As the players tired on the big pitch, Inch started to enjoy more of the play and on the hour mark Matt Hall got a shot on target that was comfortably collected by Darren Mitchell. Then Ryan Cockburn had a hook shot that whistled past the upright as Inch went in search of a consolation goal.

They got it on 63 minutes when a high looping cross from the right by Jordan Baillie was lost in the sunlight by Darren Mitchell. It slipped through his high hands and fell into the empty net.

North Merchiston had a chance to regain their 4 goal lead just a minute later when Nathan Evans was brought down by Scott Siegel and Jim Markey pointed to the spot. But Calum Young's kick grazed the wrong side of the left hand post. Notably and now expectantly there was no reaction from the touchlines in either mock-celebration or dismay. It just didn't matter that much.

Inch had the final chance on 69 minutes when Blake Wales slipped the ball towards goal past Darren Mitchell but it was cleared at the back post and North Merchiston were the team that quietly progressed to the 4th round.

A final word for 3 players who don't feature prominently in this report but who all had great games. Taylor Black, Ben Robbins and Dean Liddle controlled things at the back and were able to join in on attacks in sequence as space allowed it. They were the foundation of much of what North Merchiston did well in this game.