4th March 2020 Tyncastle v Musselburgh Athletic 2-2
After the excitement of the Edinburgh derby last night I headed to quieter climes tonight. I went to watch Tynecastle take on Musselburgh Athletic in the Lowland League Cup round two. The ground is a short walk from where I stay and I walked along the canal towpath to the ground arriving at around 19.10 for the 19.30 kickoff. I paid my £6 entry fee and headed towards the main stand. Tynecastle do not issue programmes and I had to rely on the tannoy for information on the teams. Jim arrived shortly afterwards and we took up position in seats on the halfway line to watch the match. Tynecastle play at Meggetland, a council owned facility, in the Craiglockhart area of Edinburgh. Meggetland has been used for school sports for a number of years and the enclosed ground was built around ten years or so ago, originally for the use of Boroghmuir Rugby Club. Tynecastle now share the facility and for a joint use park the pitch is in remarkably good condition.
Tyneastle were one of the original members of the East of Scotland League. However with the expansion of the league due to the influx of Junior teams last season the competition has increased and Tynecastle failed to qualify for this seasons Premier Division. however they are having a good season in the lower leagues and currently head conference B with sixty-five points for twenty-three games. The team managed by former Hearts striker Calum Elliot have only dropped points in draws with local rivals Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale and Leith Athletic and look a good bet for promotion to the Premier League next season. Musselburgh are in the Premier Division and are currently eighth out of sixteen team with twenty-seven points from twenty-one games. However by winning the South and East Winners Shield latest year they have qualified for next seasons senior Scottish Cup, the first time in their history they will appear in the competition. For tonights game Musselburgh have rested a number of senior players but will still provide Tynecastle an strong indication of the standards in the Premier Division.
Tynecastle started well and had any early chance when Ryan Cameron broke down the right onto a through ball. He tried a shot across goal from the edge of the penalty area but his effort went past the far post. After eight minutes from a similar move Tynecastle went ahead. Again Cameron chased a through ball but this time went into the box. Around twelve yards from goal to the right of the post he tried a shot. I thought Paul Grant in the Musselburgh goal could have done better as the ball went past him at his near post and into the net. Musselburgh equalised after twenty-one minutes when Tynecastle conceded a needless corner. Their keeper kicked the ball away in disgust before the kick was taken and was booked for his pains. When the ball was retrieved the corner was swung in from the right by Josh Jefferies and Liam Reid rose unchallenged in the six yard box to head home. Both sides were creating chances but the finishing was poor. The Musselburgh fans in the stand were however convinced that the referee favoured the opposition and were giving him serious abuse for his failure to caution Tynecastle players for heavy challenges. Unusually both managers, Elliot and Musselburgh Kevin McDonald, were yellow-carded during the game for their touch- line antics.
The second half started with Musselburgh on top and they took the lead on fifty-eight minutes when a low cross from the right by Liam Gregory was spilled by the Tynecastle keeper and Darren Downie had an easy task in tapping home from inside the six yard box. Musselburgh then brought on Matty King and Jacky Myles for Ethan Wynne and Gregory. By bringing on the two veterans the total age of the side increased by around thirty years. Tynecastle were no pushing for an equaliser and scored in seventy-eight minutes with a similar goal to Musselburghs first. A corner was swung in from the right and an unchallenged Ross Brady was able to head home at the far post. The Tynecastle keeper was lucky not to be sent off after a clash with King. The striker raced into the box and the keeper dived to grab the ball. the two players collided and as King was getting up the keeper made a grab at his shirt to hold him back and prevent him gathering the ball. Amazingly the referee managed to award a free-kick to Tynecastle.
The tie then went to extra time but neither side could conjure a winner. The closest came when Tynecastles substitute number 17, who looked like a larger version of John Robertson, had a shot from just outside the box go narrowly wide. The tie was decided by penalties with Musselburgh winning 4-1. Tynecastle scored their first kick and then hit the bar with the second before Grant saved the third. Musselburgh all four through King, Downie, Jordan Orru and John McManus to qualify for the next round.
After the game I walked home although through the streets rather than along the canal given it was now pitch dark. Arrive home around 22.20 after watching an exciting game.
Teams
Tynecastle*: ,,Brady,,,,Hand,,,Cameron,,
Subs: ,,,,
Musselburgh Athletic: Grant, Moffat, Orru, Reid, Larner, O'Kane, Wynne, Gregory, Thomson, Downie, Jefferies.
Subs: Myles, King, McManus, McNaughton.
*N.B. Unable to confirm Tynecastle side. Those I know I have listed but will update if I find more information.
Tynecastle started well and had any early chance when Ryan Cameron broke down the right onto a through ball. He tried a shot across goal from the edge of the penalty area but his effort went past the far post. After eight minutes from a similar move Tynecastle went ahead. Again Cameron chased a through ball but this time went into the box. Around twelve yards from goal to the right of the post he tried a shot. I thought Paul Grant in the Musselburgh goal could have done better as the ball went past him at his near post and into the net. Musselburgh equalised after twenty-one minutes when Tynecastle conceded a needless corner. Their keeper kicked the ball away in disgust before the kick was taken and was booked for his pains. When the ball was retrieved the corner was swung in from the right by Josh Jefferies and Liam Reid rose unchallenged in the six yard box to head home. Both sides were creating chances but the finishing was poor. The Musselburgh fans in the stand were however convinced that the referee favoured the opposition and were giving him serious abuse for his failure to caution Tynecastle players for heavy challenges. Unusually both managers, Elliot and Musselburgh Kevin McDonald, were yellow-carded during the game for their touch- line antics.
The second half started with Musselburgh on top and they took the lead on fifty-eight minutes when a low cross from the right by Liam Gregory was spilled by the Tynecastle keeper and Darren Downie had an easy task in tapping home from inside the six yard box. Musselburgh then brought on Matty King and Jacky Myles for Ethan Wynne and Gregory. By bringing on the two veterans the total age of the side increased by around thirty years. Tynecastle were no pushing for an equaliser and scored in seventy-eight minutes with a similar goal to Musselburghs first. A corner was swung in from the right and an unchallenged Ross Brady was able to head home at the far post. The Tynecastle keeper was lucky not to be sent off after a clash with King. The striker raced into the box and the keeper dived to grab the ball. the two players collided and as King was getting up the keeper made a grab at his shirt to hold him back and prevent him gathering the ball. Amazingly the referee managed to award a free-kick to Tynecastle.
The tie then went to extra time but neither side could conjure a winner. The closest came when Tynecastles substitute number 17, who looked like a larger version of John Robertson, had a shot from just outside the box go narrowly wide. The tie was decided by penalties with Musselburgh winning 4-1. Tynecastle scored their first kick and then hit the bar with the second before Grant saved the third. Musselburgh all four through King, Downie, Jordan Orru and John McManus to qualify for the next round.
After the game I walked home although through the streets rather than along the canal given it was now pitch dark. Arrive home around 22.20 after watching an exciting game.
Teams
Tynecastle*: ,,Brady,,,,Hand,,,Cameron,,
Subs: ,,,,
Musselburgh Athletic: Grant, Moffat, Orru, Reid, Larner, O'Kane, Wynne, Gregory, Thomson, Downie, Jefferies.
Subs: Myles, King, McManus, McNaughton.
*N.B. Unable to confirm Tynecastle side. Those I know I have listed but will update if I find more information.
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