EDINA SWEEP DEFENSIVE PRESTON ASIDE

EDINA Hibs Boys Club staged their own version of 'Super Sunday' with four of their teams in action at the Jewel in east Edinburgh, two games taking place in the morning followed by two others in the afternoon.

In addition, a Sunday Amateur league game was also played at the Jewel along with soccer sevens games for the younger age groups. All in all, it was a fantastic show by a club that only survives due to the very hard work and commitment from a group of totally dedicated volunteers. Hundreds of people, both young and old, were to be seen at the Jewel, with not a politician or one of the highly-paid officials in the massive administration in this city to be seen - once again!

It is all just talk and no action when these people speak about child obesity and other problems with young people, in the case of Edina Hibs the real work is done by the group of volunteers who have virtually brought new life to this famous Edinburgh nursery football club. Former Hibs star, David Fellenger, was just one of the spectators at the under-13 cup clash between the unbeaten Edina Hibs combine and their guests from East Lothian, Preston Athletic. The visiting side set out their stall from the start of this game, with up to seven players in defence! Fellenger said: "What is that all about in an under-13 game. Everybody back behind the ball to stop Edina scoring. It is hardly the way to enjoy playing football?" Preston Athletic's tactics were, however, effective in keeping the score down.

Edina ran out 5-0 winners but they were so far ahead of the opposition, that the game was more or less played throughout in the Preston half, before and after the half-time break. Preston did everything in their power to stop the Edina boys giving them a real hammering, so I suppose their tactics were justified.

It took until the 19th minute before the home side made the breakthrough they deserved, with David Easton firing the ball past a very good young Preston goalkeeper, Kieran Beveridge. Having broken through, Edina went on to make it 3-0 at the halfway stage with further goals from Beveridge (again) from a cross from Andy Keighren, then a piledriver of a shot from 16yd from Josh Riddell.

In an almost non-stop barrage on the Preston goal, the home side were limited to two more goals by a very determined display from the Preston defenders. Haydn Crane made it 4-0 after great work by Liam Fellenger and Crane made it 5-0 with a terrific shot high in to the roof of the net before the finish.

Edina go on to play a very good Tynecastle FC side this Sunday in what should be a great game of football between two sides committed to attack in the Belmont Vauxhall Cup, at the Jewel at 11.00am. That is sure to draw out a huge crowd, with politicians and highly-paid officials welcome to attend, too, They can see for themselves what Edina Hibs do for their young players.

On another of the three pitches at the Jewel, the good young Edina Hibs under-14 side went down 4-1 to the high-flying Tynecastle East side in the City Financial Edinburgh Eastern Region Cup. While Ryan Stevenson scored the home side's goal, Gavin Pettigrew (2), Paul Fergie and Stuart Duncanson were on the mark for Tynecastle East in this game.

The non-stop action in what was a mini-festival of youth club football continued in the afternoon, with Edina Hibs under-16s inflicting a 4-2 defeat on the visIting Dunbar United Colts side in a Lothian Buses League fixture. Jason Watson and Jamie McCaig each scored twice for the home side, while Darren Smith got both goals for Dunbar.