2nd August 2023. Hibs B 1 Formartine United 1 (Hibs won 4-2 on penalties)

 

Any one who knows me will know that I have little time for Edinburgh’s wee team never mind the wee teams wee team.so why amI I going to Meadowbank tonight to watch Hibs B v Formartine United in the SPFL Trust Trophy? I have never seen Formartine play and as I am unlikely ever to visit the village of Pitmeeden where they are based tonight gave me the opportunity to drop another Highland League Cup from my bucket lists of teams I have seen. I had an early meal and then walked down to Haymarket to catch a bus to Meadowbank. I caught a 26 at around 18.30 and as I was early for the 19.30 kickoff I got off at Abbeyhill and walked the rest of the way. I arrived at the turnstiles around 19.15 and offered a £10 for my £5 entry. Attendant said that they had little change and could I pay by card. Reluctantly I agreed but wonder why legal tender was refused for payment. As I entered the ground I needed to go to the gents. I went to go down the corridor nearest the exit but was told the I could not go that way because of the dressings rooms being near the entrance. I had to walk down to the halfway line and then back along the corridor in the opposite direction. Thankfully I was not desperate. I purchased a 50p A4 fold over programme with proceeds going to the Hibs Youth Development. Only issue was that programme listed both squads but no announcements were made of the line-ups and team-sheets were not issued. I took my seat in the third row of the three row stand to await the kick-off.

Hibs had some interesting players in their side. In goal was Max Boruc who signed in June from Polish side Slask Wrocław on a two year deal. He is a cousin of former Celtic goalkeeper Arthur Boruc. At centre half Hibs fielded Darren McGregor who joined Hibs in 2015 and was part of their 2016 cup winning side. He retired at the end of last season and was appointed as coach to Hibs U18 side. How a 37 year old can play in what is meant to be an U21 side is beyond me. An other player of interest in the Hibs was Kanayo Megwa who joined Hibs at the start of last season. He spent the last couple of months last season on loan at Kelty Hearts where he made his first senior team starts, he is now pushing for first team status at Hibs as a full-back or central defender. As for Formartine I know nothing about the players or the club. Research showed the club were formed in 1948 and now play in the Highland League, being based around sixteen miles from Aberdeen. They have been runners-up in the Highland League in 2912/13, 2015/16 and 2017. They also hold the record for the most goals scored in a Highland League season with 137 in 2016/17. The current team looked like a tall strong side who would not be afraid of the physical side of the game. 

Early in the game Formartine keeper Ewan MacDonald  raced from his goal to clear a long through ball as Rudi Molotnikov was looking to challenge. MacDonald to clear the ball but his follow through struck Molotnikov in the head. The forward recovered after treatment but surprisingly MacDonald was not cautioned. Boruc tipped a shot from Jake Stewart over the cross-bar after the forward had cut in from the left. Formartine earned a free-kick in thirty nine minutes when Scott Lisle was fouled a couple of yards from the touchline. Dan Park took the kick and with only a single player in the defensive wall shot low into the net at the near post to give the Highlanders the lead. Hibs keeper Boruc was expecting a cross and was unable to get across the goal to save. As the half moved into injury team Hibs won a corner on the left. The ball found Josh Landels unmarked in the centre of the penalty area. His initial header was parried by keeper Ewan MacDonald but rebounded back to the Hibs forward who headed home the equaliser. 

The second half was tight with defences on top and few clear scoring opportunities. Lisle had a couple of half chances, hitting the side netting after turning in the penalty and then forcing a diving save from Boruc with a low shot from the edge of the penalty box. McGregor was booked for a foul on Aaron Norris as he raced through on goal. The referee did not deem the challenge as a clear goal scoring opportunity, a red card offence, and a free-kick was awarded just outside the penalty box with Parks attempt was pushed over the bar by Boruc. Formartine had a three on two situation with a couple of minutes to go but Parks effort from outside the penalty box, on the right, was saved at the expense of a corner. As the game moved into injury time Landels broke free and his shot from just outside the penalty area hit the bar and rebounded to safety. The draw meant a penalty shoot out to decided who would go through to the next round. Reuben McAllister, Jacob McIntyre, Megwa and Malik Zaid all scored for Hibs. While Park and Lucas Smith scored for Formartine Paul Campbell sent his effort past the post and captain Graeme Rodger was denied by a diving save from Boruc at his left hand side. Hibs therefore went through to the next round with a 4-2 victory in the shootout.

After the match I walked towards Holyrood and caught a 44 bus back home Arrington around 22.10.

Teams

Hibs B: Boruc,Wright, Megwa, McGregor, Hamilton, Ziad, McGarva, Smith, O. McIntyre, Landers, Molotnikov.

Subs: McAllister, J. McIntyre, Bulloch

Formartine: MacDonald, Spink, Thomas, Wilson, Rodger, Park, Norris, Campbell, Combe, Lisle, Stewart.

Subs: Smith, Wade, Lynch.