In what turned out to be real eye-opener of a game between the two Musselburgh Schools, it was the home side that benefited the most from playing on their home pitch as they went on claim all three points in a 4-3 success.

Loretto were the better balanced side on the day and they were deserved winners, but it took two late goals to separate the sides after an action packed encounter. Loretto were pinned back in their own have as Campie made the better start to the game but it was the home side that broke away to open the scoring and what a great goal it was. Darren Hall broke up the right and he unleashed a wonderful shot on the run that crashed past the helpless Campie keeper, Stuart Mackay, to make it 1-0 - possibly against the run of play at that stage.

The visiting side were wide open in defence and they were caught out again in another quick break, this time Liam Mulholland hammering a great shot past the exposed visiting goalie. The non-stop pace of this game saw chances created at both ends, but it was Mackay in the Campie goal who was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

However, it was the visiting side that claimed the next goal before the half-way stage, with skipper, Patrick Harrold, getting the congratulations from his team-mates when he lashed a wonderful shot past Kamran Tufail in the home goal to make it 2-1. The unrelenting pace of the game continued in the second half with the home side looking the better team.

But it was Campie who scored the next goal to square the game at 2-2 when Corrie Hook who showed great awareness to equalise with another cracker of a goal. With the home side pushing forward at every opportunity, the pressure on the Campie defence saw Mackay produce two wonderful saves to deny Loretto. But the home side did get their reward with two lovely taken goals from Mulholland giving them a two-goal cushion at 4-2.

In a rousing end to the game, Campie reduced the deficit to 4-3 when a long throw-in landed in the net and the referee awarded a goal, saying the home keeper touched the ball before it crossed the line. It was not enough to deny Loretto the points in this opening game of the season. If all others are as good as this game was, the kids are in for a wonderful and enjoyable time playing the greatest team game in the world. And spectators can stand back and watch the kids play total football, devoid of any cynicism.