EDINBURGH City under-14s did not mess about in their first fixture of the new season against Tynecastle FC in the Lothian Buses Eastern Youth League at St Augustine's High School, going on the attack from the opening whistle from excellent referee, Jim Sim. Last season in the under-13 age group, City struggled to get the goals their good outfield play deserved, but they appear to have recruited well over the summer and they were much the better looking side on their way to picking full points in an emphatic 4-0 win.

The Tynecastle combine found it difficult to stem the tide from the all-black City players with goalkeeper, Ryan Crosbie, the busiest player on the pitch as he dealt with a deluge of shots at the Tynecastle goal. With so much pressure on Crosbie's goal, it was only a matter of time before City made the breakthrough. It took until just before half-time, however, before the Tynecastle defensive wall cracked. It was a well-taken goal, too, with a ball from the right in to the centre and it fell perfectly for Ryan McLean to send a long-range shot over Crosbie in to the Tynecastle net to give the home side a deserved 1-0 lead at the break.

There was still time for Tynecastle to surge forward from the restart and Ruaridh Donaldson had a crack at the City goal, but his effort was cleared. Big Tinashe Mukundwa was in brilliant form for City and he almost made it 2-0 with a shot at Crosbie. That set the scene for most of the second period, with the home side getting more and more confident as the game progressed. It was not one-way traffic however, and Craig Healey was the dangerman for the visitors in several goalmouth raids. But City went 2-0 in front with another great stike, this time from Frank Henney who struck the ball beautifully from well out again over Crosbie and the ball went in to the net just under the bar.

That goal came in the 15^th minute of the second half and it was followed five minutes later by the goal of the game. The ball was played up the right to Mukundwa and this talented youngster's first touch enabled him to get the ball under control as he set off on a surging run up the right, pausing to look across goal before delivering a perfect ball for Connor Robb to volley an unsaveable shot past Crosbie from close in. The simplicity of this goal was an example of how to play football from by the Edinburgh City side.

That took the score to 3-0 for City and they went on to play great passes as Tynecastle tired. After further sustained pressure on the Tynecastle rearguard, goal No 4 duly arrived and Callum Irvine it was who got his name on the scoresheet with another cracking shot that Crosbie could not save.

At the other end of the pitch, home goalie Sean McLaren had to look lively to stop Tyencastle getting a consolation goal they deserved. This was a good game to watch and the crowd on the touchlines encouraged both sets of players. On the day, Edinburgh City were clear winners, but Tynecastle will improve as the season progresses. That is for certain! Edinburgh City have set themselves a high standard to live up to with this display. It was wonderful to watch them in action with talented players in all parts of their team.

Edinburgh City – Sean McLaren, Craig Tulloch, John Currie, Ryan Hutchison, Justin Thompson, Connor Robb, Mark Robertson, Frank Henney, Laim Airley, Jordan Low, Kieran McGudie, Ryan McLean, Kerr Young, Greg Murray, Callum Irvine, Tinashe Mukundwa.

Tynecstle FC – Ryan Crosbie, Lewis O'Connor, Michael Travis, Steven Purves, Ross Yeoman, Kieran McKenna, Tom Carr, Nicky Elder, Craig Healey, Alasdair Simpson, Ruaridh Donaldson, Kieran Watson, Darren Pennycuik; Darren Leslie, Dylan McLaughlin.