David Boyle's free kick hits the back of the net for the first of his four goals at Clovenstone

David Boyle scored a terrific four goals at rain soaked Clovenstone this morning as Gorgie Hearts swept past Dalkeith Pumas. The architect of much of the Gorgie side's attacking menace was big Caesar Ogwal who time and time again sliced open the Puma's defence with perfectly weighted passes for his forwards to run onto. It is no exaggeration to say that this game could have had 30 goals in it!

The rain was falling steadily as this match got underway at the enclosed pitch at Clovenstone. It is on mornings like this that the dedication of the people involved with grassroots football shines through. As the coaches of the respective teams were preparing their side's pre-match, the water was literally dripping from their faces. But for the 30 boys there to play football the enthusiasm simply transferred onto the pitch as the match got underway with everyone giving their all for the cause.

It would be easy to be critical of the virtually non-existent defending in this match. But as an attacking spectacle it was absolutely fantastic. 15 goals were scored but with better finishing and lesser goalkeeping displays and it could have easily been double in number.

After just 19 minutes this match had swung in every direction. 6 goals had been despatched and the teams back level again at 3-3. First on the mark were Gorgie Hearts as they raced into a 2 goal lead after just 7 minutes played. Their first came from a through ball from Caesar Ogwal which was collected by Dale Livingstone. He evaded the recovering defender's tackle and slotted in past the exposed Daniel Kerr. Number two came from an inswinging corner. The Dalkeith defence sliced their clearance into the air and Jamie Aitchison nodded into the empty net.

At that point it looked as if Gorgie would simply go on to run riot. Anyone who has been involved with primary school football over the past 2-3 years would recognise Caesar Ogwal anywhere. The former Tollcross pupil is hard to miss and he was running things in the heart of the Gorgie midfield. It is easy to dismiss Caesar's talents as being just down to his physique but the big fella is a very intelligent football player and his passes through the Dalkeith defence caused havoc throughout this match.

But Dalkeith grabbed their opportunities when they came and in 10 minutes Chris Watters picked up a poor clearance by Gorgie about 30 yds out. He controlled it brilliantly with the sole of his foot, stabbed it forward and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the right hand corner of the net.

4 minutes later and it was all square. Dalkeith took a quick free kick on the edge of the box. The ball was floated in and Chris Watters was there again to flick the ball goalwards with his head. The ball rebounded off the post into the keeper's hands but the ball had crossed the line.

But 2 minutes later and Gorgie were back in front. The Dalkeith defence was again posted missing and as Gorgie raced in in a 4v1 situation, David Boyle played the ball to Craig Gillon, who chipped the ball over the advancing Dalkeith keeper. Gillon should have had a second a minute later as he was played in again by Jamie Aitchison but this time Dalkeith keeper, Daniel Kerr, saved brilliantly in the absence of his defenders.

Gorgie were made to pay for that in 19 minutes when Dalkeith again grabbed an equaliser and it was Chris Watters again who ran onto a terrific through ball to slot it home into the bottom left hand corner.

Several times in the next 10 minutes Daniel Kerr produced save after save of exceptional quality to keep Dalkeith in the match. Gorgie were cutting Dalkeith open at will as well as shooting from distance. It was a terrific first half performance from the young Dalkeith goalkeeper and it was epitomised in 27 minutes when he produced an absolutely outstanding save from a free kick by Caesar Ogwal.

But he could do nothing, as the match moved towards half time, to stop Gorgie going in with a 2 goal lead. First, in 33 minutes, the Dalkeith defence failed to clear a corner properly despite several opportunities to do so and it fell to Caesar Ogwal who clipped the ball high into the top corner from 10 yds out. Then on the stroke of half time David Boyle curled in a magnificent free kick past the unfortunate Kerr.

It was breathless stuff in the heavy rain. 8 goals. Lots of missed chances and, despite having lost 5 goals, an outstanding goalkeeping performance from young Daniel Kerr.

Poor referee George Mathison was trying to keep the touchlines calm as they claimed for countless offsides. But in truth there were so many through balls that no man could possibly get them all spot on and George did a great job in letting this game flow.

Dalkeith started the second half brighter with George McDougall causing problems on the right. Dalkeith were in the game more now and were pressing hard to pull themselves back. But they weren't really creating any real chances and it was Gorgie that went further ahead with a goal after 41 minutes. David Boyle was slipped through again by Caesar Ogwal and he had the simple job of passing the ball past the replacement Dalkeith goalkeeper, Ryan Ferguson, and into the bottom corner.

Dalkeith were given the chance to pull a goal back after 48 minutes when they were awarded a penalty. Reece McDonald stepped up and stroked the ball past Mark Speedman to make the score 6-4.


Reece McDonald turns away after scoring from the penalty spot

7 minutes later and Gorgie had a penalty of their own. This time however the chance was missed as Jordan Collins sent the ball wide of the goal.

After 56 minutes David Boyle had a great chance to get his hat-trick but he shot across the goalkeeper and the left hand post. But a minute later he found himself in exactly the same position in the right hand channel and this time he made no mistake as he slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

The final 5 minutes of this match saw a bit of a goal glut. David Boyle got his fourth as he scored the goal of the game. He collected the ball on the half way line, nodded the ball forward and then strode towards goal before slamming it past the Dalkeith keeper to make it 8-4. A minute later and it was nine as Caesar Ogwal got his second from inside the box. And almost immediately it was ten as Boyle unselfishly squared the ball to substitute Mhedi Ben Hamou to have the simple task of knocking the ball home from 4 yards.


David Boyle

But Dalkeith had the final call as Liam Langlands broke away on the left. His initial shot crashed back of the left hand upright and he reacted quickly to smash the ball home to make it 10-5.

Dalkeith had good performances from goal machine Chris Watters and captain Reece McDonald. And in goalkeeper Daniel Kerr they have a terrific final line. The young keeper had a great game.

For Gorgie, Connor Walker is a lovely little footballer. Always calm on the ball and with a host of tricks and turns. Scott Cameron was very solid at the back and David Boyle had an outstanding game up front. But The Pink Man of the Match goes to Caesar Ogwal. He was at the centre of everything Gorgie did and he contributed two goals into the bargain. A great all round performance from him.
 

Caesar Ogwal