18th August 2023. Tynecastle 3 Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

It is Friday evening and what do I do? After watching Tynecastle against Penicuik on Saturday thought I would  watch them against Gala Fairydean Rovers in the South Qualifying Cup. Following an early meal I left home around 19.45 for the fifteen minute walk along the canal to Meggetland. I arrived just after 19.00 and paid my £5 entry. As I got into the stand I met a guy carrying team sheets and he allowed me to photograph them. I them went into the top of the stand and met Alex, Andy and Gwen and settled down to watch the match.

Tynecastle made two changes from Saturday's side with Jack Chesser coming in for Matty Combe in midfield and second half hat-trick hero Russell cCairns  replacing Fletcher Hendry up front. Gala have again made a number of changes to their side. The main players I recognise are Danny Galbraith who played for Hearts before moving to Man Utd as a teen. He did not make it at Utd but has had a good career Hibs, York and Edinburgh City among others. Gareth Rodger also played for Edinburgh City while hs ddad played for Hearts. Jack Beaumont also played for a number of SPFL sides. 

Tynecastle almost scored in the first couple of minutes when Ryan Cameron cut the ball back under the diving Gaza keeper Jay Cantley. With the goal gaping the ball ihit Scott’s ankle and bounced back into the arms of a grateful Cantley. After a couple of attempts by Gala Tynecastle took the lead in sixteen minutes. Again Cameron cut the all back from the byeline along the six yard box. Russell made no mistake as he prodded the ball into the net. The match continued with both sides have decent attempts at goal but there was no further scoring in the first half. 

Tynecastle scored a second almost direct from the start of the second half. The kickoff was played to Majid Sulyeman who over-hit his pass at to a colleague. Scott ran onto the loose ball before shooting past the helpless Cantley from jusi inside the penalty area. Gala almost pulled a goal back minutes later when a twenty yard shot from Liam Watt following a Galbraith corner was pushed over the bar by Murray Jackson, the Tynecastle goalkeeper. Gala countinued to press and finally got a goal back in sixty-four minutes. Jack Beaumont broke from the halfway line and fired a twenty-yard shot past Jackson into the far corner of the net. Gala had a great chance for an equaliser in seventy-eight minutes when Ross Greigfouled Galbraith in the penalty box. It was a clear penalty and Galbraith opted to take the kick himself. The kick however sailed high over the bar and, given Gala is a rugby town, could have been an excellent two point conversion. Nicky Reid was close to an equaliser as the clock ran down with an overhead kick which went narrowly wide. However two minutes into injury time Reid made amends with a late equaliser. The striker was allowed to run forward from halfway by the retreating Tynecastle defence and from around twenty-five yard shot past Jackson. A further six minutes of added on time was played before the final as the tie moved into extra time.

The game continued in extra time as it had previously with both sides making chances but being unable to convert. The turning point of the match probably came in ninety-nine minutes Beaumont was about to be yellow carded for the visitors but then passed a comment and referee Hogarth showed a straight red card, reducing Gala to ten men. With eight minutes remaining, Scott ran into Gala's penalty box but his attempt  was brilliantly blocked by keeper Cantley. However  the loose ball ran back to Scott who went past the keeper where his attempt was  blocked on the line by Kyle Semple, The ball ran back to Scott who had a third chance this time just beyond the far post. When the ball ran to him for a third time a couple of yards from the far post, Semple then brought him down  him down and referee Hogarth pointed to the penalty spot. Semple was yellow carded for the challenge and with were seven minutes of extra time left  Cameron stepped up to send keeper Cantley the wrong way from the pressure penalty kick and edge Tynecastle back in front. Gala tried desperately for an equaliser but Tynecastle held out to the final whistle to move into the next round by beating there higher league opponents. Tynecastle probably served the win in what was an excellent end to end match.  

After the game I walked to the bus stop at Meggetland and met a French couple with a young child who had be lost and were heading for Stay City in Brandfield Street. I sought hey wait for the next bus and they got on a 27 with me. I got of at Leamington and walked them down to Brandfield Street which is across the road from my flat. I felt I had done my good deed for the day !

Teams

Tynecastle: Jackson, Wales, Tait, Power, Goidlad, Tait, Wynne, Chesser, Cameron, Scott, Cairns.

Subs: O’Donnell, Brown, Bailey

Gala Fairydean Rovers: Cantley, Emple, Watson, Semple, Galbraith, Ostle, Sulleyman, Greene, Watt, Drammah, Smith.

Subs: Beaumont, Rodger, Reid