31st July 2018 Heriot Watt University v Haddington Athletic. 2-4

A big decision tonight as a number of games on in the EoS league Qualifying Cup. Choices included Penicuik v Crossgates, Newtongrange v Dundonald  or Whitehill v Kelty. However I decided to head to Heriot Watt University v Haddington Athletic at the Oriam. Left home at 18.30 and caught a 34 bus out to Riccarton. Arrived at the ground at 19.10 with no-one on the gate so walked in. Five minutes later a guy arrived at the gate with a table and programmes etc. My conscience got the better of me so I wandered back to the gate at paid my £5 admission charge and £1 for a programme.

Game was on the pitch where Hearts play their reserve games. There is now a standing with seating for around 200 and I took a seat there. Ground is now called the "John Brydson Arena". I tried to find out why ground was named after John Brydson but could not find anything on internet.

The game started with a bang when the Heriot Watt Keeper, Alex McMahon saved a shot in the first minute. As most of the spectators looked away to watch him clear the ball he decided to throw it out to the feet of Scott Moffat, the Haddington striker. He wasted no time in shooting into the unguarded net to give Haddington the lead. Seconds later Andy Jones burst down the wing and crossed into the goalmouth where Andrew Sinclair touched the ball between the keepers legs to give Haddington a 2-0 lead inside two minutes. I know Andy Jones as I worked beside his dad Gwyn. Andy used to come along Hearts European games with us when we met in the Ettrick for a meal before heading to Tynecastle. Haddington were in control in the first half but despite having all the pressure were unable to add to their lead. 

HWU had a good start to the second half but fell further behind around the hour mark. Jones drove in from the left and fired a shot across goal. It looked like it was going in but Declan Quinn made sure by poking the ball in from a yard out.  However just after the sixty minute mark HWU were awarded a free kick about thirty yards out after Lane was brought down. The kick was hit into the box where Aidan Quinn headed across goal for Ryan Higgins to head past Sinclair Inglis in the Haddington goal. HWU were again pressing forward and after around eighty minutes Chris Lane fired a fabulous shot into the top left corner of the Haddington to bring the score to 2-3. Eventually, in the last minute of stoppage time, came an ending as Haddington scored a hotly-disputed clincher through substitute Declan Heron.  Again, the attack was on the left through Jones, but when the ball came across goal for Heron to slide forward and divert it past McMahon, there were appeals both for offside and for going in on the goalkeeper with the sole of the boot.The referee awarded the goal for a deserved win for Haddington. Joe Hamill had started in midfield for Haddington and moved into central defence after Cunningham was substituted. He played for Hearts some ten years ago and show the difference between professional and semi-pro football by his positional sense and use of the ball. HWU star was Gavin Malin who was with Spartans last year but had played previously with a number of lower league SPFL teams, Forfar, Arbroath, Montrose and Edinburgh City.

I walked down to bus stop and caught 35 home getting home just before 22.00. Was in time time to take Rufus out for his last walk of the day.

Teams
Heriot Watt :McMahon, Ward, Munro, Barclay, Quinn, Macher,Muttitt, Higgins, Lane, Malin, Hogg.   
 Subs :  Laurenson, Beirnie, Dowds
Haddington : Inglis, King, Tufail, Hamill, Hainey, Cunningham, Quinn, Hill, Moffat, Sinclair, Jones
Subs:McNeill, Heron