A GREAT second-half performance from Edina Hibs under-16s saw them hit back from 1-0 behind to a very good Pentland Panthers side to run out 2-1 winners and lift the Eastern Region Youth FA Division Two League Cup at Olive Bank.
With the experienced referee Gordon Bain in charge, this was a smashing game of football and it was the more traditional football skills of the Edina side that prevailed.
Pentland keeper, Daniel MacKenzie, had little to do in the first half with
his team-mates countering Edina's close, ineffective passing with their own brand of open, running football.
It was productive, too, with Stephen Griffin opening the scoring from the penalty spot after he was felled while making a run on the left of the 18-yard box. Edina keeper Jed Ellison saved the penalty low down to his left but the ball rebounded off him and Griffin followed up to score.
Edina went close to scoring a shock equaliser with a great shot from Darryn Hlaeangana but the first half belonged to the Pentland side and they were prepared to shoot from any distance to keep up the pressure.
It was, however, very different in the second period. Edina moved the ball about quicker and they who looked the better team.
After several good attacks, they got back on level terms with a super goal from No.6 Jason Watson. The ball came over from the left to the waiting Watson on the right of the Pentland goal giving him the opportunity to cut across the out-of-position defenders before whipping a great left-foot effort to the left of the diving MacKenzie to make it 1-1.
That was a super goal and how it lifted Watson's team-mates.
In another assault on the Pentland goal, Edina hit the target again to go 2-1 in front. A great ball from a corner on the right to the far post eluded the big Pentland defenders and Keerin Davie came in to send a perfect downward header hurtling past the helpless MacKenzie to put Edina in front.
Were the players and fans of the club from east Edinburgh pleased? I thought so and, while Davie disappeared under a mass of his team-mates only to get booked by the referee when he emerged without his jersey on, the group of Edina fans with yellow balloons on the terracing at Olive Bank were jumping about celebrating.
These two goals for Edina turned this game on its head.
Panthers fought back and Griffin had two great chances to equalise, the first attempt was blocked and the second went away over the bar. Ellison showed great hands in the Edina goal to clutch another dangerous shot from the Pentland outfit. Panthers prowled around the Edina box and it took great defending by their opponents to close them down.
Finally, Hlaeangana fired another tremendous shot from the left over the Pentland crossbar just before the final whistle.
Edina spokesman Gerry Ellison said: "We have a small of squad of only 14 players and we knew it was going to be hard for us as Pentland Panthers are a good team.
"We struggled in the first half, but I thought we deserved to win on our second-half performance - the football was superb." This excellent final finished with a great show of sportsmanship from the Panthers and their officials. It was possibly a sore one to lose, but the Pentland players were a credit to their club and the Eastern Region Youth FA.
Edina were also extremely well behaved and sporting in shaking hands with their opponents.
EDINA Hibs are looking for players to strengthen their good squad for a tilt at the under-17 age group next season. More details of training, etc, are available from Steve Ponton on 0789 906 4013.
Edina Hibs: Jed Ellison, Ryan Park, Aaron Ponton, Darren Keenan, Joel Dickie, Jason Watson, Scott Wright, Jame McCue, Darryn Hlaeangana, Niall O'Brien, Scott McLaughlin, Craig Culbertson.
Pentland Panthers: Daniel MacKenzie, Iain Mortimer, Colin Campbell, Christopher Ross, Stuart Shand, Ross Chinnery, Ross Irvine, Sam Campbell, Martin Smith, Richard Fraser, Michael Collin, Stephen Griffin, Allan Chalmers, Grant Frier, Andrew Bright, Jordan Smith.
Referee: Gordon Bain.
