Scott Wilson (right) steers home Leith Athletic's 2nd goal

Leith Athletic progressed into the 4th round of the Scottish Youth Challenge Cup with a scintillating second half performance against Ardencaple Boys Club.

The visitors from Helensburgh competed well throughout but were eventually overcome by a wonderfully attacking display from the Leith side led by midfield dynamo and captain Sean Murphy.

A fine autumn morning greeted the boys from Ardencaple who had travelled all morning from the far west coast and managed to negotiate the Edinburgh roadworks in the west and east of the city. They didn't, however, have as much success getting past the Leith Athletic rearguard superbly marshalled by sweeper Daniel Simpson throughout.

Indeed, such was Simpson's domination at the back that goalkeeper Reece Smail barely had a save to make in the whole match. The young Helensburgh side competed very well in the opening 35 minutes in particular but they found it difficult to create any real clear cut chances against this very good Leith Athletic side.

Ardencaple's coach, Craig Holborn, admitted as much afterwards stating that the Leith side were by far the best team his young side had come up against this year. He felt that that was as much to do with the end result as any shortcomings with the Ardencaple boys and he was absolutely spot on.

After a slightly nervous first half, Leith Athletic moved into top gear in the second and swept aside their opponents with great attacking football. With a little more luck in front of goal the margin could have been wider than the four goals registered.

Leith gave early warning of their attacking menace in the third minute when a high looping shot from Daniel Simpson hit the top of the bar from the edge of the box. But the opening goal was only delayed and it eventually came in 8 minutes.

A great ball from the left was controlled by Sean Murphy on the right hand side of the box. He cut inside 2 defenders and placed a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The large home crowd must have expected Leith to go on and score more but Ardencaple were competing well and started to edge their way into the game.

Sean Murphy gets ready to shoot and put his side 1-0 up

Chances were few and far between but Frazer Chalmers tried hard to win ball in decent areas up front and he went onto have a very good game for the visitors. Good touch and control and always looking to bring others into the game.

The only other real chance of the half came on 23 minutes when Sean Murphy beat the outstretched arms of Ardencaple goalkeeper, Calum Thornton, but saw his shot hit the base of the right hand post and away to safety.

Half Time 1-0

Ardencaple must have felt they had a very good chance with the scoreline so tight but the second half was dominated by Leith Athletic with wave after wave of attacks that the Argyll side eventually found too much to handle.

And yet Ardencaple had the first chance of the half as Frazer Chalmers was slipped through on the right hand channel but Leith keeper Reece Smail reacted quickly and cleared the danger.

On 46 minutes Leith went two ahead with a terrifically taken goal. With most of the play heading in the direction of the right flank Sean Murphy cleverly disguised a through ball into the left hand side of the box where he found Scott Wilson in space. He had time to look up and tuck the ball away into the right hand side of the goal.

The reaction of the players tell you everything about this young side. Firstly, a confident but not over-exuberant celebration by Wilson. And as he wheeled away to be joined by 3 or 4 others congratulating him several of the Leith players immediately recognised the pass by Murphy and went to give him a pat on the back for the assist. It was a mature but intelligent recognition of the way the goal had not only been scored but also created.

Twelve minutes later and it was three. Leith had three attempts to score but twice Ardencaple keeper Calum Thornton saved the day only for the ball to be forced over the line by wee Brendan Edwards from a couple of yards.

Edwards should have scored a second 6 minutes later after great work on the right wing by the impressive Hne Wilson but his side footed effort brought out a great save from the goalkeeper.

On 68 minutes Leith scored a fourth. A shot from Daniel Simpson on the edge of the box rebounded to Hne Wilson and he finished well from the centre of the goalmouth.

Leith were now rampant and could have scored a fifth when Brendan Edwards hit the bar when straight through on goal and with the goalkeeper beaten.

The final two chances of the game fell to Ardencaple. With 5 minutes left Ben Craig had a snapshot that just went past the right hand post. And two minutes later Blair Fyfe brought out a great save from Reece Smail who turned the ball around the post with a full length dive to his left hand side.

Full Time 4-0

After a relatively uneventful first half Leith Athletic deservedly went through to the next round and into the last 32. The whole Leith team played well with a wonderful balance of strength, skills and technique. Daniel Simpson had a great game in the heart of defence whilst Hne Wilson took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half as he ran Ardencaple ragged on the right wing. Wee Brendan Edwards could of had a hat-trick and he was always buzzing about in the centre forward position.

For Ardencaple it was a bit of a backs to the wall match. Connor Dickson and Craig Callendar did well to protect their goal as did Frazer Chalmers up front. And Calum Thornton played well in goals despite the end scoreline.

The game was immaculately refereed by Ronnie Lauder.

The Pink Man of the Match award however goes to Leith Athletic's Sean Murphy. The young midfielder was simply fantastic in the centre of the pitch. Probing, tackling, passing and scoring goals. He was at the centre of most of Leith's play, a fact that is clearly recognised by his talented teammates.

Sean Murphy