AFTER suffering six defeats this season in games against Hutchison Vale, Edina Hibs turned the tables on the pre-match favourites to lift the City Financial Eastern Region Youth Cup at Hallhill in Dunbar it was the turn of the wee Hibees to celebrate in a game in which they truly ended up in ‘seventh heaven’!

Edina chose their seventh meeting of the current under-19 campaign to hand out the ‘mother and father’ of all hammerings on Hutchison Vale as they turned the form book on its head in a fantastic 7-1 triumph. Vale contributed to their own downfall in this incredible final at the lovely New Countess Park Stadium at Hallhill, having two players red carded by match official, Gavn Ross, along with one of their coaches, who was sent away from the side of the pitch in the second half.  Vale have enjoyed a great season in this age group of the Eastern Region Youth FA, but they were on the receiving end this time at Hallhill as the rampant Edina outfit tore them apart. All the praise in this latest encounter between two of the top youth clubs in Edinburgh goes to Edina Hibs!

Calum Gallacher posted an early warning of his side’s intentions with a cracking shot in the opening stages that tested Vale ‘keeper Kevin Kesson. The confidence of the Hutchison players received a set-back in the 10^th minute when the burly James Telford won the ball in the Vale goalmouth and with Kesson off his line, the Edina striker planted the ball in the net for goal No 1. Little did the good crowd realise then that there was much more to follow . . .  much, much more and all for Edina Hibs!

Five minutes later, it was 2-0 and the rout had started with a vengeance when David Miller finished off a superb move up the right wing to fire home goal No 2! Edina kept up their assault on the Vale goal, only broken up by a good move started by Tom Waters that ended with Steve Bell delivering a poorly hit shot at the Edina goal. Goal No 3 for Edina came in the 29^th minute and it was a brilliant cross from player-of-the-match winner, Ali Speakman, sending over a great ball from the left to the back  post where Sammy Hassan was perfectly placed to hammer a shot past the luckless Kesson in the Vale goal. Three minutes later and it was 4-0, with the on-fire Telford scoring from close in after more good play on the left wing from Speakman. Vale’s defence was run ragged by Edina as the assault continued, with Telford and Hassan almost adding to the 4-0 lead although Vale had a goal from Dean Thornhill chalked off for offside.

The interval did nothing to change the pattern of the game and, indeed, it got even worse for Hutchison Vale in the second half with two of their best players sent packing by Mr Ross to be followed by a long walk of shame for one of their coaches as he too was red carded in a game Hutchison Vale will want to forget. But the day  belonged to Edina Hibs and nothing was going to spoil the party for John Hall’s squad. They stroked the ball confidently as they gave Vale the runabout on the big pitch and goal No 5 came along in due course, Kyle Davidson getting in the goal-scoring act when he picked up a loose ball on the left to run in on the Vale goal and chip the ball over the outrushing Kesson to make it 5-0.

Goal No 6 for Edina came from a well-taken spot-kick from Telford to complete his hat-trick and take the margin between the two teams to 6-0. At the other end of the pitch, in a rare Vale attack, Bell again blazed the ball wide from a good opposition. The nine-men Hutchison outfit did have their one moment of joy in the game when Myles Seaton managed to stick the ball  past Edina keeper, Liam McGowan to reduce the deficit to 6-1, but the team in the Hibs outfit were not to be denied and on their seventh meeting of the season it was surely appropriate for them to get goal No 7 from that man Telford again to run out 7-1 winners!

Football is, indeed, ‘a funny old game’ as this showpiece under-19 final proved once again! While Vale could not get off the pitch quick enough after the presentation of the Eastern Region Cup to the jubilant Edina Hibs squad, there was further cause for celebration when Speakman picked up the player-the-match-reward sponsored by Edinburgh City Youth FC to cap a truly memorable day for all of them in the sun, strong wind and rain at this lovely venue in East Lothian. It was 7-up in every respect for John Hall and his wee Hibees as they celebrated a wonderful win at the finish.

Edina Hibs – Liam McGowan, Terry Carlin, Calum Gallacher, Sammy Hassan, Ryan McKenzie, Bobby Young, Andy Scott, Kevin Smith, David Miller, Ali Speakman, Jamie Clark, Josh Hall, Kyle Davidson, Steven Galloway, Murray Milne, James Telford, Dan Scott, James Catterson, Gavin Barclay. 

Hutchison Vale – Kevin Kesson, Steven Bell, Kyle Anderson, Douglas Cunnison, Neil Dewar, Kyle Hay, Jay Hunter, Robbie Jamieson, Peter Keenan, Myles Season, Dean Thornhill, Tom Waters, Darren Wilson, Reece Allan, Patrick Bonrthrone, Jay Nicholson.

Referee – Gavin Ross.