THE lack of a ‘knock-out punch’ from Hutchison Vale Colts allowed Tynecastle FC under-15s to win the John McConnell Memorial Cup in the ‘virtual steal of the season’ at the lovely Penicuik Athletic Junior stadium.

After taking a 1-0 lead with a well-taken goal from Scott Sime in the opening minutes of the game played on an exceptionally good surface in glorious sunshine, Tynecastle were given a ‘battering’ by their opponents. It took Vale well in to the second half before big central defender Craig Spalding headed the ball in to the Tynecastle net from a corner to make the score 1-1 and it was the failure of the Colts to score more goals that cost them the chance of lifting the silverware.

In fact, one bemused spectator summed it up during the second half when he said: “If this had been a boxing match, it would  have been stopped as Vale were so ‘far ahead on points’! A significant factor in Tynecastle’s win was the display of big goalkeeper, Ewan Smart. The Craigmount High School pupil had an outstanding game and it was his agility and skill in goal that kept Tynecastle’s cup hopes alive – until extra time produced an amazing turnabout in fortunes.

Tynecastle should have been punch-drunk by the time match official Michael Scott, blew for full-time! The referee also contributed to the frustration shown by the Tynecastle contingent with decisions throughout the game they quite clearly did not agree with. However, how they (Tynecastle) got the chance to go on and win the trophy named after one of their club’s most prominent officials, will remain a cause of wonderment to all of those watching from the sidelines at Penicuik. But Tynecastle did survive and go on to produce a brilliant display in extra time that, litterally, floored Hutchison Vale Colts.

The Tynecastle came out of their corner with renewed vigour and they swept the Cots aside with a devasting one-two punch that left their opponents haning on the ropes! Big Andrew Reid was the first to have a go at the Colts defence, smashing a piledriver over the bar, then the Hutchison Vale keeper, Ryan Duffy, deflected another shot at his goal for a corner. When the ball came over, it was Reid who outjumped the Vale defenders to head the ball in to the net to make it 2-1 for Tynecastle.

All the action was then in the Colts goal and the Hutchison Vale coaches even withdrew Duffy from the action to pour players in the Tynecastle goalmouth in a desperate bid to get back in to the game when they were awarded a corner. That ploy rebounded on the Colts, however, with the ball being cleared out to Sime and the big Musselburgh Grammar School player took off down the pitch heading for the empty Vale goal only to be pulled down from behind by the back-tracking Norman Lawson in the penalty box. It was a certain penalty and, even though Vale brought Duffy back on under the rolling-subs rule, he could do nothing when Daryn Veitch  delivered the coup-de-grace when scoring from the spot-kick to make the final score 3-1 for Tynecastle. That really was a ‘punch below the belt’ to the losers and it well and truly floored the unlucky Hutchison Vale Colts outfit.

There you are, then, but you really had to see it to believe it! It was an astonishing game played on a pitch that was quite magnificent and a credit to the officials at Penicuik Athletic who look after it. The Junior club are actively supported by Midlothian Council and they, too, deserve equal praise for giving young footballers the chance to play a final at such a well-looked after and maintained facility. However, on what took place on the lovely pitch, football is indeed ‘a funny old game’!

Tynecastle FC – Ewan Smart, Morgan Black, Kieran McWatt, Calum McLean, Michael Slater, Daryn Veitch, Stephen Gray, Bradley Scott, Liam McFarlane, Scott Sime, Connor Fridge, Daryn Cain, Andrew Reid, Stewart Cottin.

Hutchison Vale Colts – Ryan Duffy, Mark Law, Ross Shields, Callum Manson, Craig Spalding, Bernard Matthews, Jason Hunter, Harry McGregor, Norman Lawson, Rees Smith, Keir Blaikie, Craig Thompson, Gary Hamilton.

Referee – Michael Scott.