|
MATCH REPORT |
SUNDAY 10th FEBRUARY, 2008
U15 FEDERATION OF HEARTS SUPPORTERS CUP
SEMI-FINAL
MISTY 5C |
|
HUTCHISON VALE |
4 |
2 |
LEITH ATHLETIC |
■Scott Coleman sends
the goalkeeper the wrong way to put Hutchison Vale 1-0 up from
the penalty spot
Hutchison Vale booked their place in
the final of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Cup at
Tynecastle after finally overcoming Leith Athletic at a misty
Sighthill this afternoon. Vale deserved their win but will be
relieved to have secured their final spot after squandering so
many chances during this game.
Tyrone Marcus Jimenez brought Leith Athletic
straight back into this game at 3-2 with a wonderful free kick
on 58 minutes but Dougie Winning slammed the ball home with 12
minutes left to ensure Hutchie's place in the final.
Sighthill was awash with football games after
a long, weather enforced, absence but the early springlike
promise of Sunday morning had disappeared in a thickening veil
of heavy mist as the players took to the field.
 The
opening exchanges were dominated in central midfield as the
players shook off semi-final nerves and gradually Hutchison Vale
took the game to their Leith opponents. The first real chance
fell to Vale in 12 minutes when Leith gave the ball away cheaply
on the left hand side. It was quickly swept into the middle of
the box but Tyree Wilson stabbed it just past the upright.
The opening goal was merely delayed however when, in 15 minutes,
Hutchison Vale were awarded a penalty kick. Dougie Winning got
the better of his marker on the left hand side and as he bore
down on goal he was brought down and Billy Connor immediately
pointed to the spot. The kick was duly
despatched by wee Scott Coleman who sent goalkeeper
Stuart Dodds the wrong way. Leith Athletic
were far from out of this game however and with Paul Ewing
enjoying a magnificent game in central midfield they started to
probe away down both flanks. Chances were at a premium however
and out of the blue Hutchie went two goals up.
This time Tyree Wilson found himself out on the right
wing and with nothing much on he hit a low cross come shot with
the outside of his boot. The ball fizzed across the 6 yard box
and, bending all the time, it found its way into the far corner
of the Leith net past a surprised Stuart Dodds.
2-0 down after 26 minutes and Leith suddenly found their feet in
this game. Paul Ewing was pulling all the strings in midfield
and with Chris Barron showing excellent movement up front they
started to make inroads towards the Vale goal.
Connor Scott was also starting to see more of the ball alongside
Ewing and twice in the space of 60 seconds he fed Liam Tomassi
in the right channel. The first time he shot straight at the
Hutchie goalkeeper, Jack Luby, and on the second occasion he
shot over the bar.
Then, as half-time approached, Leith got themselves back into
this game which their play had deserved over the past 10
minutes. A corner on the left was only partially cleared by the
Hutchison Vale defence and, as it was swept back in, Ben
McKinnon flicked the ball into the bottom right hand corner
of the net with his boot to his and his team-mates delight.
Half Time 2-1 Hutchison Vale made a
second half substitution with Scott Ritchie coming on into the
centre of the park to counter the very skilful Paul Ewing and it
turned out to be a change that won the game for Vale. Ritchie's
physical presence and drive gave Hutchie a different dimension
and he almost scored within 5 minutes of the re-start when he
crashed a shot off the Leith bar from 10 yards.
On 50 minutes Ritchie again found himself with the ball at his
feet but this time he was out on the left wing. The big man
showed tremendous footwork stepping inside the Leith full back
before squaring the ball to Scott Coleman who coolly
stuck the ball low past Stuart Dodds to put Hutchie 3-1 ahead.
Coleman had another chance moments
later after great work down the right wing by Ross Paterson but
hit his shot just past the left hand post. Then Tyree Wilson
worked a great opening for himself when he danced past two Leith
defenders before stabbing the ball inches past the post.
Leith made a succession of
substitutions in an effort to get back into a game that was
starting to run away from them and this injected fresh impetus
into their attacking play with Mathew Skene in particular seeing
a lot of the ball in forward areas. Then on 58 minutes they got
themselves right back into this match with a superbly taken free
kick.
The award was given 20 yards from goal
near the "D" and the exotically named Tyrone Marcus Jimenez
curled a fabulous shot into the top left hand corner of the net
to make it 3-2. Vale goalkeeper did his best to get a hand to
the ball but it was too accurately placed for him to do much
more.
Suddenly it was game on and with both sides going all out for
the extra goal that would either kill this tie or take it into
extra time it made for an exciting finale.
But it was Vale who looked more
threatening. with the energetic Chris Macleod continuing to buzz
about the forward areas, and with 12 minutes remaining Hutchison
Vale secured their place in the final. It was Dougie Winning
that paved the way showing excellent footwork to joust past 3
Leith defenders before slamming the ball past Stuart Dodds.
Full Time 4-2
This was a terrifically entertaining
semi-final tie with two teams going all out for the win with
attack after attack. Leith Athletic will be disappointed that
they couldn't create more chances than they did, especially in
the first half when Paul Ewing was simply fantastic in the
centre of midfield. Chris Barron also showed up well as did
Connor Scott alongside Ewing. Matthew Skene's fresh legs made an
impact when he came on and Tyrone Marcus Jimenez's free kick was
a fine goal.
Hutchison Vale were led superbly by the constantly talking Andy
Summers at the back and at the other end of the pitch they
carried more threat in attack with Chris MacLeod, Dougie
Winning, Scott Coleman and Tyree Wilson always buzzing about.
MacLeod in particular enjoyed a fine match up front.
 But
this match turned at half time. In the run up to the break Leith
were well on top and Paul Ewing looked as if he could win this
match for them. But the emergence of Scott Ritchie in the centre
of the park with fresh legs gave them a more physical presence
and his driving runs and ball winning were eventually too much
for a tiring Leith midfield. The Pink Man of the Match award
goes to Hutchison Vale's Scott Ritchie. |
