27th July 2021 Edinburgh United 1 Kennoway Star Hearts 1

Another beautiful day of glorious sunshine but I was a bit apprehensive about going to the match tonight. For the last couple of days the weather forecast has been for thunderstorms and torrential rain following the current heatwave and I did not fancy being caught in a storm when I was out. However as the sun was still shining I decided to brave the elements and headed to of parties Road at 18.30. I walked along to Tollcross and caught a 27 bus, getting off ajust before Colinton Mains and then walking the short distance to the ground. The ground is in the back streets of Colinton, la leafy suburb, and can be tricky to find in what is a mainly residential area unless you are familiar with the location. I arrived at the ground just around 19.00 and paid my £4 entrance fee. Jim was going to Broxburn tonight and had asked me to get him a couple of programmes. Jamie who designs and edit the programme was selling the current  issue inside the stadium and I bought three copies. The cover of the United programme changes for every issue with the cover being based an old programme styles. I am not sure what today's issue is based on but it certainly is different from standard programme covers.as i was sitting in the stand reading my programme I met Ally, another ex-work colleague. Ally had taken early retirement two years ago and like me is loving life without work. Ally went to get a coffee and I moved down to stand beside the pitch side barrier at the kick-off. 

Edinburgh United and Kennoway Star Hearts are both in the East of Scotland League Conference A. While the season is only three games old Kennoway are going top and unbeaten after three games while United are eighth with four points to date. Edinburgh United  were formed in 1985 and played initially in the East of Scotland Junior Leagues.. United were the sole "Junior" club in Edinburgh for the majority of their time in the Junior leagues before moving into the East of Scotland League in 2018. Kennoway Star Hearts Football Club are  from the village of Star near Glenrothes in Fife, Scotland. Star Hearts were formed in 1962 and played in local amateur leagues. In 2013 Star Hearts merged with nearby amateur side Kennoway AFC, forming Kennoway Star Hearts JFC.The new club successfully applied for membership of the Scottish Junior Football Association in 2013, and joined the East Region North Division ahead of the 2013–14 season.They remained in the Junior leagues until their move to the East of Scotland League in May 2020.

As the game kicked off I saw Alan further along the barrier and moved along to stand with him. United started well and Stephen Scott broke down the left and cut the ball back to James Flynn whose shot was blocked on the goalline. The ball fell to Andrew Swinney and again his shot was blocked before Calum Brodie in the Kennoway goal turned away Kyle Scott's attempt. Kennoway looked dangerous attacking and Sean Guiney diid well to block a shot from Ross Balmer. After half an hour Andrew Smith in the United goal filed to other a cross ball. The ball ran loose on the right and Daryl Falconer could not get an early cross in. When he managed to get the cross into the box Balmer headed over. In an even first half 0-0 at half-time was a fair reflection of the play.  wandered over to have a chat with Ally at half-time as he was sitting in the stand behind me. 

Early in the second half Guiney had a chance from a free-kick from K. Scott but his header was straight at keeper Brodie. Kennoway had a good break down the right but the resulting shot was hit over the bar. The first goal of the game came in the seventieth minute. Kay was fouled just outside the penalty area on the right hand side. As the United wall was lining up I said to Alan that the wall was poorly positioned with a gap towards the left of the goal. Kennoway substitute Lee Bryce took the kick and found the left hand corner of the net with the aid of a deflection of the end of the United wall. United then had most of the possession but were unable to make any clear chances until they were awarded a free-kick in the eighty-fifth minute after a foul on substitute Josh Lamond on the right about thirty-five yards from goal. James Flynn took the kick but instead of aiming towards the big men in the box he flighted the ball towards the near post area. Guiney broke from the pack in the centre of the penalty box and stooped to head the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box. Kennoway had a chance to win the match but a shot was blocked by United Tammy Young at the expense of a fruitless corner. The final action of the game came when k. Scott chased a through ball down the left. His shot from just inside the penalty box flew over the bar as keeper Brodie advanced form his goal. 

After the final whistle Alan and I walked to the main road to catch a bus. A number 10 was due in nine minutes and Alan decided to wait for it while I walked up to the junction where I would have a choice of three buses. A poor decision as I ended up on the same bus as Alan as the 10 was the first bus to arrive at the junction. 

Teams

Edinburgh United: Smith, Swinney, Guiney, Black, McKinlay, K. Scott, Clark, Swanson, Flynn, S. Scott.

Subs: Lamond, Young

Kennoway Star Hearts: Brodie, Watson, Griffiths, hughes, Mair, Balmer, Kay, Brand, Watson, Falconer, Payne.

Subs: Bryce