THE under-21 Scottish Youth FA Challenge Cup tie between Inch Colts and Leith Athletic Colts had more than its fair share of thrills and spills.
The confrontation between two of the top under-21 teams in the Capital at Double Hedges was not just a game of football but a gladiatorial contest, played at a fantastic pace from start to finish with no quarter asked, or given.
Silky, passing foo
tball was forsaken for the all-out physical effort that ended with the two teams locked together at 2-2 and the promise of more to come on Saturday, December 6, at Leith Links in a replay which will go to extra time and penalties if required.
The passion among the players was fully illustrated early on when an Inch Colts player launched himself in a take-the-player-and-the-ball tackle on the Leith side of the pitch and an unfortunate substitute who was too close to the touchline was sent cart-wheeling as well.
Inch were the winners in two previous meetings between these clubs and they were that wee bit more confident in the opening stages of the clash.
Steve Robertson led the Inch assault on the Leith goal with a surging run up the right and he sent in a good effort that was well held by Leith goalie Paul Tansey.
Inch had a golden opportunity to go in front when Sean Conaghan was brought down in the box but Sean Jamieson's spot-kick hit the outside of the left-hand post before going behind. But the home side did break the deadlock in the 25th minute, big Scott Nicholson scoring with a brave header among flying boots at the back post following a corner from the right to put Inch 1-0 ahead.
The pulsating action continued with both goals surviving some great attacking moves and it was the Inch contingent who were celebrating again when Robertson ran on from what appeared to be a blatantly offside position to plant the ball behind Tansey and stretch his side's lead to 2-0.
The second half of this Scottish Cup tie was quite something to behold, however. All teams from Leith Athletic are blessed with tremendous spirit and Jamie Stewart and Jonathan Herd both went close to reducing the deficit on the restart. The exchanges were even more fierce and committed in the second stage of this marvellous game. Leith were a changed team and they duly got their reward in the 62nd minute, and what a goal! Peter Gowans rifled a bullet of a shot past Johnston and into the net from 20 yards out.
The home fans were cheering when Robertson had the ball in the Leith net, but he was booked for using his hand to put the ball over the line. Ally Speakman sent a powerful free-kick screaming over the Leith crossbar and that led up to the controversial second penalty award for Inch, when Jamieson was tackled in the box by Michael Garrie. After the protests died down, Robertson took the spot-kick this time but he sent his shot wide of the post.
And Inch were made to pay when Leith got their deserved equaliser in the 79th minute after Jack Ferguson managed to beat Johnston in another mass raid on the Inch goal.
The atmosphere in the closing stages became even more tense and the replay a week on Saturday promises to be another thriller.
Inch Colts: Daryl Johnston, James Conaghan, Ally Speakman, Josh Hall, Scott Nicholson, Dale Richardson, Steve Robertson, Sean Jamieson, Michael Gallacher, Sean Conaghan, Robin Williams, Yusif Bernawi.
Leith Athletic Colts: Paul Tansey, James Main, Steve Sproule, Graham Wright, Craig Thomson, Peter Gowans, Craig Nisbet, Bobby Young, Jonathan Herd, Jamie Stewart, Jack Ferguson, Shaun Wood, Lachlan Thom, Michael Garrie, Tony Muir, James Paterson.
Referee: Billy Connor.
The full article contains 647 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
