16th December 2012. Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2 Musselburgh Athletic 3

 

Still no Hearts fixtures due to World Cup break although they will be back tomorrow at Tynecastle against Kilmarnock. After a white-out last weekend I was desperate to watch some live action and decided to head to Ainslie Park tonight for Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale(LTHV) versus Musselburgh Athletic in the East of Scotland League, Premier Division. I left home at 18.15 and walked to Tollcross to catch a bus. The board showed eight minutes till the next direct bus was due so I decided to walk on a few stops rather than stand in the cold waiting. I was just turning from Lauriston Place into Forrest Road when the 27 drove past me. Luckily the bus stopped at the Forrest Road stop and as number of people were getting on and off there I was able to catch it before it drove off. I got off the bus at the Stewart’s Melville playing fields at Ferry Road and walked the remainder of the distance to Ainslie Park as I did not want to arrive too early and be standing about in what was still a chilly night. I paid my £3 entry and £2 for a programme at the turnstiles. On entering the ground I saw Jim and wandered across for a chat. After a few minutes Alex appeared from the stand and he also joined us. We moved into the stand for the kickoff and took up a position standing at the back row of the covered stand towards the Pilton end of the ground. The cafe/bar was unavailable to fans tonight as a function was taking place. Shortly after the kick-off Stuart also joined us to watch the match. 

LHTV are third bottom of the league. This week it was announced that their recent 4-2 win against leaders Linlithgow Rose had been over-turned by the league as they had fielded an ineligible player. Linlithgow were awarded a 1-0 win and the lost points dropped LTHV in the third relegation place. I think they have enough good players to get them out of trouble but it may be a tough struggle. As usual there were no team sheets or team announcements. I got the Musselburgh team of social media but there was no conformation of the LTHV side. Musselburgh stand seventh in the table but are unlikely to either move into a promotion spot or fall into the relegation area. 

The game started with Musselburgh but the first goal came in twenty-six minutes from LTHV. A cross from thee right found Sean Wringe free in the penalty box and the striker shot low into the corner of the net past Musselburgh keeper Gordon Laing. Musselburgh equalised after thirty-five. A good move down the right initiated by Craig Stevenson lead to a low cross in the penalty area. The ball fell to Nathan Evans about twelve yards out and his shot gave Kevin Swain in the LTHV goal no chance of making a save. Musselburgh took the lead just before the halftime whistle. A long ball into the penalty area found Jackson Barker unmarked in the penalty. He seemed to shoot into the ground but the ball bounced past Swain to give Musselburgh the halftime lead.

LTHV equalised about three minutes into the second half after they won a corner. All the tall players were in the centre if the goalmouth with a cross into the centre if the goalmouth expected by the Musselburgh defence. However the corner was played into the near post where Wringe got a touch to send the ball into the goal.  Musselburgh then took control of the game and Evans had two excellent chances to put them ahead. One was blazed high and wide and Swain did well to block the other. Musselburgh finally took the lead with five minutes to go. Barker sent an excellent long pass out the the left for Liam Smith to run onto. The forward rushed down the wing then cut into the penalty box to shoot low across Swain into the far corner and give the three points to Musselburgh. 

After the game I walked up to Ferry Road to find a 27 was due in five minutes. Rather than than wait in the cold I walked towards Crewe Toll caught the bus at the previous stop, Arriving home around 22.25.

Teams

LTHV: Swain, Daniel, Scott, inglis, McFarlane, Unkown, B. Viola, Unkown, Wringe, Taylor-McKenzie, j. Viola.

Subs:

Musselburgh Atltitic : Laing, Stevenson, Black, Reid, O’Connor, O’Brien, Evans, Berger, Cairns, Fidler, Smith.

Subs: Harris, Weekes, Myles.