20th November 2022 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 3 Kello Rovers 1

I had a dilemma today about what to do. Should I stay at home home and watch Qatar v Ecuador in the opening World Cup game or go to watch LTHV v Kello Rovers in the South Challenge Cup. I have reservations about Qatar hosting the World  Cup due to their political and environmental issues so decided to head to Ainslie Park. I was lazy ant caught a 27 bus. I knew Jim and Alex were also going to the game. Jim was watching rugby and asked both Alex and I go get him a programme. As I was going to get there late I left this to Alex. I arrived about ten minutes before the 15.30 kickoff and paid £5 for entry and a programme. 

This match had been switched to a Sunday as both Spartans and LTHV had been down at home in the South of Scotland Challenge Cup. Spartans as ground owner had priority and played on the Saturday with LTHV switching to Sunday afternoon. LTHV have had a difficult season is the East of Scotland Premier League this season. However in recent weeks they have brought in a number of new players, Chris Ingils (on loan from Spartans), Ricky Miller (previously at Preston Athletic), Louis Swanson (Whitehill Welfare) and Tony Muir (Whitehill Welfare). The changes to the line-up have helped the side move out of the relegation zone, albeit only on goal difference at present. As for Kello Rovers I have to confess I knew next to nothing about them. After some research I found that they play in Kirkconnel in the East of Scotland Third Division. I know nothing about their current squad but notable former players in include Davie Irons (Partick and Gretna), George Cloy (QoS) and Quinton Young {Ayr and Coventry). The team list on Twitter did not include squad numbers so I was unable to identify individual players by name. The only exception was goal-scorner Struthers who was named online.

The LTHV website said Kello had brought a good but not very vociferous support. Obviously they had not heard the ‘lady’ sitting in the next block of the stand to us who expressed her opinions loudly and without prejudice, with several additional adjectives. Her objections got louder as the game went on but did not really start until the fourteenth minute. LTHV were awarded a free kick just inside the Kello half. Fletcher Patterson floated the ball to the edge off the penalty box where it was flicked on to Dylan Moore. He had no difficulty in beating Jamie Kerr in the Kello goal to put THV ahead. LTHV continued to press forward but were unable to increase their lad until the forty-fourth minute. A long ball from Patterson was headed on by ex-Penicuik forward Joe Viola on the left of the penalty area. Kerr came rushing from his goal but misjudged the fight of the ball as it went over his head. Viola chased his own header and sent a low shot into the net from a tight angle.

Hello started the second half well and their centre forward had a goal disallowed for pushing in the forty-eighth minute. Kello however kept on pushing forward and pulled a goal back three minutes later. The right winger put a low ball into the penalty box and Andrew Struthers pocked it home from close range. Both teams were now giving it a go although the two keepers had few saves to make. LHTV clinched the game in eighty-five minutes after Jack Begg broke down the left. His low cross was missed by Owen Walton but fell to Seam Wringe at the far post who had no difficulty in scoring. At the final whistle LHTV were through to the next round where the draw the following day gave them a tie against another West of Scotland team in Kilwinning Rangers. 

After the final whistle I walked up to Ferry Road and caught a twenty-seven bus home within five minutes. I was one by Just after 18.00 after watching good match. I could have watched the World Cup opening game but always prefer a live match.

Teams

LTHV: Swain, Patterson, Moore, Miller, Signorini, Muir, Scott, B. Viola, J. Viola, Wringe, Morrison.

Subs: Jelen, Walton, Begg.

Kello Rovers: Kerr, Martin, Bennie, Struthers, Pagan, Johnson, Smith, Heaney, Lawrie, Armour, Robertson.

Subs: Anderson, Hampson, Hill.