PETTIGREW BLASTS
TYNECASTLE INTO
NEW SEASON

Gavin Pettigrew gets ready to unleash his and Tynecastle's second goal

Gavin Pettigrew got Tynecastle's season off to the best possible start with a double against Leith Athletic at Saughton Park. The right winger scored a goal in each half of a pulsating game that the home side thoroughly deserved to win.

Saughton survived the endless rain of the last 24 hours as the new season got off to a whirlwind start. Leith started very brightly and took the game to their opponents. The Leith midfield were pressing hard and weren't allowing Tynecastle any time on the ball to get their passing game going. The initial exchanges were played at a furious pace but without any serious goalmouth action.

Slowly but surely Tynecastle started to win more possession and they were first to test out either keeper with Gavin Pettigrew showing early signs of his menace with a shot through the Leith defence. Leith goalkeeper Stuart Dodds saw it all the way however and saved comfortably.

Tynecastle started to become more dominant and were enjoying success down both flanks as their full backs pushed on against an increasingly hesitant Leith team. Tynie left back Jamie Anderson was seeing a lot of the ball and whistled an early shot past the Leith right hand post after more good work on the right by Pettigrew.

In a rare Leith foray, Liam Tomassi jinked his way past two defenders after a good flick on by Matthew Skene but put his shot past the post when it seemed easier to score.

But it was the men in maroon who were starting to take control and Andrew Jones almost gave them the lead with a terrific effort across the goalkeeper that hit the base of the post and rebounded to safety.

It was no surprise when Tynecastle took the lead in 21 minutes. A quick throw in on the left found the inspirational captain Conor Edmonds free on the left. He sent in a great ball across the face of the goal and from 2 yards Gavin Pettigrew couldn't miss as he stroked the ball home.

Edmonds was having a fair old tussle in the middle of the park with Leith's blond central midfielder Michael Park and it was Edmonds who eventually became the more dominant as he and Tynecastle took a grip on the game. Leith were finding it difficult to create anything of note and the half time whistle gave them and their coaches a welcome chance to re-group.

The break seemed to work for Leith who again started this half brightly. They were enjoying more of the ball and Tomassi had another good chance when he turned in the box only to see his effort saved by Tynecastle number one Daniel Duffy.

In 65 minutes Tynecastle were awarded a free kick which was glanced over by the Leith defence. The resultant corner was swung in right on top of the keeper but Dodds showed excellent handling to relieve the pressure.

Tynecastle were again starting to control the game now with acres of space being found on both flanks. Half time substitute Craig Sinclair was seeing lots of the ball on each wing with an almost constant supply of passes coming from Conor Edmonds in the middle of the park. After several near misses Tynecastle scored a second to finally kill off any Leith hopes.

More good work from Sinclair saw the ball played into the box and after an interchange of passes Pettigrew blasted the ball home past the helpless Dodds for his and Tynecastle's second.

A third almost came soon after with Sinclair again the provider with a fantastic low ball right across the face of the goal. Pettigrew played it back across for Rhuraidh Donaldson but he snatched at the chance and it went agonisingly wide. A further opportunity came after more good play from captain Edmonds who released the suspiciously offside looking Sinclair who in turn set up striker Scott Aitken. Aitken beat keeper Dodds but not the upright as it crashed off the post and away to safety once more.

Leith had all but fallen out of the game now as the stronger and fitter looking Tynecastle put them to the sword. But even then they weren't totally out of things and Matthew Skene almost pulled one back with a header at the back post after good work on the right wing, but his effort just went over the bar.

That was the last real chance of a great opening game in the Under 15 First Division with Tynecastle well worthy of their win. Coach Stephen Park said, "Leith fought really well but apart from a few early scares I thought we were the better side. Overall I was pleased with the way things went and although it took us a while to get going we were fairly comfortable in the end."

There were several good performances. Tomassi and Skene did well for Leith and Tynecastle hero Pettigrew would be delighted to get his season off to a flying start. Sinclair did very well with his fresh legs in the second half but The Pink Man of the Match award goes to captain Conor Edmonds who was at the centre of most of the Tynecastle attacks as well as taking care of things defensively when required.