gibberish

Liam Doherty is the son of a very good friend of mine and so it was with a sense of pride that I read this report in the Evening News last night.

This year’s competition was sponsored by Action Scaffolding and Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP) is this year’s chosen beneficiary.

The supporters have raised more than £33,000 for local charities over the past three years and there are high hopes that Sunday’s attendance of 350 fans will enable last year’s total of £11,500 to be beaten.

With both sides keen to make the early breakthrough, the game started at a frantic pace and Hearts came closest after nine minutes when Mike Brown took advantage of a defensive lapse to race through and drill a powerful shot against the Hibs goalkeeper, Andy Auld.

That spurred the visitors into action and, seconds later, Ross Pryde had the opportunity to break the deadlock. But his header from a pinpoint cross from Daniel Burns failed to trouble the Hearts goalkeeper, Bruce Pringle.

The best chance of the first half fell to Hearts’ striker Craig Dickson, who beat the Hibs defence to a Russell Hogarth corner and only a superb reflex save from Auld prevented his powerful header from finding the net.

Hibs started the second half with the greater urgency and it came as no surprise when the visitors took the lead ten minutes after the break when Declan Brady showed good vision to put David Wright into space. The youngster raced through on goal before unleashing a powerful effort beyond Pringle and into the top corner from the 18-yard line.

Hearts restarted the game with a renewed vigour and that prompted referee Paul Hanlon to flash his yellow card at Hearts’ Bruce Hogarth and Hibs’ Sean Lally in quick succession, an edge then being added to the encounter that saw a good number of cautions follow thereafter. Hearts continued to press forward and their equaliser came with 20 minutes remaining.

Oli Li played a well-crafted free-kick into the penalty area, where Craig Dickson was on hand to lash the ball home for the equaliser, to the delight of the home fans.

Both sides had chances to win the game but, with the scores equal after 90 minutes, the tie went straight to penalties. After a tension-filled shootout in which both sides had already missed two penalties, it was Jamie Little who suffered the agony of failing to find the back of the net in sudden death and Hibs’ Liam Doherty stepped up to ensure the trophy was retained by the visitors with a 10-9 shootout win.

The victory left Hibs’ coach Fraser Ogilvie, a former youth player at Easter Road and in his second year of managing the side, delighted.

“We seemed to be nervous at half-time and I had to tell the players there was nothing to be nervous about, it was a game of football, 11 against 11, and we could do it.

“I think we played better in the second half,” he said.

“When it goes to penalties it’s a lottery, though, and we hadn’t even practised penalties in training, so I’m just happy we managed to retain the trophy.”

Hearts’ captain Brian Whitson was disappointed but, nonetheless, felt the real aim of the match had been met.

He said: “Charity is the overall winner, there’s not doubt about that. But I’m just a bit disappointed for the guys to have lost it, and to have lost it on penalties as well.

“As a Hearts fan, playing at Tynecastle never loses its appeal though. I don’t think I’ll be playing next year, but I said that last year too so we’ll see what happens!”

Jambos coach Calum Anderson felt his side had done themselves proud, saying: “It is disappointing to lose this one as we’d played a lot of good football and I think we surprised Hibs. Our players can hold their heads high, though.”

Hibs captain Duncan Smith was of the view that his side had to dig deep for the win. He said: “It was definitely easier last year, and I’m saying that even though I think we had a better squad this year.

“We had three young boys in the side – Steven Togneri, Declan Brady and David Wright. We relied on them to come up with the goods and they did us proud.

“At half-time, we realised we had to keep putting in the hard work and, thankfully, it paid off in the end with the win. This is the third year I’ve lifted the trophy and I wonder if I get to keep it now!”

John Pryde, a member of the Edinburgh Charity Cup committee, emphasised the focus of the day was on charity, saying: “The match itself was pretty incredible, its always a bit up in the air when it comes down to penalties at the end.

“The charity, CCLASP, is always one that pulls the heart strings and it was a firm favourite amongst the committee, and I’m just glad that we can help out in such a positive way for everyone involved.

“We’re hoping to get Easter Road next year if Hibs are willing to let us have the game there again and we’ll certainly be approaching the club.”

Hearts: Pringle, Jamie Little, Craig Little, Whitson (captain), Brown, Bishop, Murray, More, Brown, Dickson, Hogarth. Subs: Murray, McDonald, Dolan, Allan, Li.

Hibs: Auld, Smith (captain), Colquhoun, Black, Gillon, Brady, Wright, Togneri, Burns, Lally, Pryde. Subs: Hunter, Doherty, Lawrie, Johnston, Margiotta