ORMISTON made the best possible start in their first game in the East of Scotland Under-19 League Cup, hitting back after going 1-0 down to beat Edinburgh City 2-1 in a very good game at the Gyle Recreation Ground.

The former Edinburgh West youth side looked impressive in the opening minutes against a young-looking Edinburgh City combine but their shots at goal failed to trouble visiting keeper, Stuart Hogarth. The all-black City kids worked hard and it was they who went in front in the 20^th minute of this fast-moving and entertaining game. The goal came from Grant Chalmers and it was a truly wonderful strike from the left touchline and, despite a great attempt by home keeper, Graham Thomson who got a hand to the powerful shot, the ball crashed in to the Ormiston net off the far post.

That wonderful goal lifted the vistiting side and it was they who looked the more impressive up to half-time, although they got a lucky break when Ormiston's Jamie Buchta smashed a 25yd free-kick off the post. However, it was still 1-0 at the halfway stage of the game when excellent match official, Gavin Ross, gave the boys the break they deserved after such a good first half to the game. In the second half, Ormiston it was that got their game back on track and it was the younger and physically smaller City slickers who were under the cosh with the equalising goal coming from a penalty. An Edinburgh City player was red-carded for his part in the incident leading to the award of a spot-kick, sent off by the match official for using a hand to stop the ball crossing the line for an equalising goal. To make it a double punishment, one of his team-mates was also shown a red card for comments made to the referee.

To compound the misery for the visitors, Mark Evans sent his spot-kick wide of Hogarth to square the game at 1-1. That goal came in the 68^th minute and four minutes later, Ormiston went in front with a great shot on the run from Buchta that beat Hogarth low down on its way in to the back of the City net.

Paul McNulty almost made it 3-1 as the pressure on the under-strength Edinburgh City outfit mounted. Chalmers had a chance to snatch a late equaliser for the visiting side but his shot lacked the power to trouble home keeper, Thomson. The Ormiston keeper also gave away a needless free-kick when carrying the ball beyond the 18yd line when clearing from his hands. He was also booked for comments made to the referee for mouthing off to the referee when the decision was given against him.

Overall, this opening game in this league consisting of youth teams from the semi-professional East of Scotland FA was a good advert for the game at this level, although two red cards proved to be disastrous for the losers. And Ormiston were deserved winners, too!

Ormiston – Graham Thomson, Ross Motion, Scott McCarry, Scott Elder, Mark Leslie, Andrew Donaldson, Paul McNulty, Kris Mutch, Jamie Buchta, Simon Main, Christie Henderson, Mark Evans, Tony Gilmour

Edinburgh City – Stuart Hogarth, Scott McFarlane, Paul Crawford, Ryan Thomson, Willie Mitchell, Sam Jackson, Grant Chalmers, Craig Gibbons, Sean Lawson, Drew Callaghan, Craig Fraser, Harry Conner, Danny Baxter.

Referee – Gavin Ross.

Ormiston go on to play Spartans in the League Cup on Sunday, at City Park (2.00pm). Spartans kicked off their campaign with an 8-1 away win against Civil Service Stollers, with the goals for the winners coming from Mark Boyle (2), Scott Canto (2), Tony Muir (2), Steven Lawton and Scott Riddell.

*All minor-grade league match secretaries are invited to send copies of their fixtures and results weekly to mackayian@blueyonder.co.uk If contributing match reports, the full names of goalscorers from both teams must be included.