14th October 2022 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3 Craigroyston 0

 

A Friday night match for a change with Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (LTHV) playing  Craigroyston in the South of Scotland Challenge Cup. With the dark nights beginning to draw in I decided to get a bus rather than walk to Ainslie Park. I walked to Tollcross to find there was a twelve minute walk for a 27 bus. I walked up to Lauriston Place rather than wait in the cold and caught the bus there. I got off at Morrisons and walked down to Ainslie Park arriving about 19.20 for the 19.45 kickoff. I paid £5 for a concession entry and a programme to enter the ground where I met Alex. As the weather was getting colder we decided to take a seat in the stand and sat chatting until the match started. Now time for a rant. While LHTV produce a programme there are no team-sheets available or team announcements over the tannoy. Even worse squad numbers are not listed in the programme so players cannot be identified by referring to the programme. Both LTHV and Craigroyston also do not list team line-ups on social media. The East of Scotland League is semi-professional and is part of the SFA pyramid and surely all teams should assist fans by letting them know team line-ups. Even sticking a team-sheet on a wall would be better than nothing. 

LTHV are in the EoS Premier League and are currently thirteenth in the sixteen club league. Hill of Beath Hawthorn and Oakley who are below LHTV in the table both have games in hand. This is similar to last season where LHTV hovered around the foot of the table but escaped relegation  at the end of the season. They have a number of experienced EoS players in their side including Sean Wringe, Kevin Swain, Sean Guiney and Scott Taylor-McKenzie but just.do not seem to be able to get results in the league. Craigroyston are in the EoS second division and have struggled for a number of years. They are currently fifteenth in the eighteen club league but are close to the sides above them and should be capable of avoiding relegation. I have to be honest and say I did not recognise any names in the squad listed in the match programme. 

The match started as expected with LTHV having most of the possession although not really making any clear chances. Craigroyston were attempting to break but were unable to get any clear shots on goal. LTHV took the lead in twenty-three minutes when a corner was headed down by Sean Guiney beyond the far post and fell at the feet of Sean Wringe. The striker made no mistake as he shot into the net to give LHTV the lead. The half continued in much the same fashion but neither keeper as seriously tested.

I don't know what Craigroyston manager Chris Scott said to his team at halftime but they seemed to come out with a changed attitude. They had two excellent chances in the half. Firstly a cross from the right found a forward at the far post about eight yards from goal. His shot hit the post an bounced out where a second forwards shot was blocked by the LTHV keeper. A third attempt was also blocked before the referee blew up for an offside as the shot was blocked. Then a break down the left lead to a low cross across the six yard box. A forward slid in in an attempt to turn the ball into the net but just failed to reach the cross. Alex and I were hoping for another LHTV goal to clinch the match as it was becoming colder as the match wore on and we did no fancy the match going to extra time.. Finally in the eighty-third minute LHTV scored a second as the ball break to Scott Taylor-McKenzie just outside the penalty box on the left. He took a touch and then fired a low shot into the net to put is side two up. Two minutes later LHTV scored a third when a corner found the LTHV centre-half, Aiden McFarlane, at the far post yards from goal and he headed the ball into the back of the net. The final whistle blew shortly thereafter putting LHTV through to the next round of the South Challenge Cup. 

After the match I left Alex to head up to Ferry Road. There was a 27 bus due in seven minutes so I waited to catch it. The journey home was comparatively quick and after getting off at Leamington Terrace I was home just before 22.30.

Teams

LHTV: N/A

Craigroyston: N/A