A MINI-festival of football was staged in the glorious sunshine at the Jewel Park in east Edinburgh and all three games highlighted the diversity and talent enjoying football in the Lothians.
The sun shone down throughout and spectators even heard the massive explosion from Sighthill where the ugly block of flats, built only 40 years ago, was being demolished.
Edina Hibs v Broxburn Athletic (under-14s)
BROXBURN Athletic Colts were i
n brilliant form in their South East Region Cup clash and the home side ended up on the wrong end of a 12-0 defeat. The West Lothian side were virtually unstoppable and, once they opened the scoring early on, with the impressive John Bayliss sending a great cross into the Edina goalmouth for Andy Davidson to score with a glancing header, I think everyone on the sidelines wondered what was to follow.
Brave Edina keeper Daniel Kerr had a fantastic game and he made many superb saves but it was a very trying day for Kerr and his team-mates.
Edina coach Derek Moorhead said: "You picked a bad day to come and watch us play. We were outclassed!"
Edina Hibs: Daniel Kerr, Ross Paterson, Connor Thomson, Jordan Craig, Grant James Wilson, Mark Hall, Josh Lawrie, Fraser Murray, Sean Fernie, Ryan Johnston, Calum Young, Jonathan Dimelow.
Broxburn Athletic Colts: Paul Muir, Greg Powrie, Jordan Lee, Daniel Stavert, Callum Boyle, Jordan Crookes, John Bayliss, Dean Donaldson, Ewan Smith, Liam MacConachie, Graeme Thomson, Andy Davidson, Jamie Edwards.
Referee: Martin Forbes.
Edina Hibs v North Merchiston (under-13s)
NORTH Merchiston beat a very good Edina Hibs 3-1.
This game was so close and the visitors led 1-0 at half-time from a Jake McDonnell goal.
In the second half, Edina laid siege to the Merchi goal but the home side suffered a real sucker-punch of a goal when Firrhill High School pupil Joe Turner-Law, smashed home a wonderful shot from 22 yards to put Merchi 2-0 in front.
Edina reduced the deficit when Michael Binnie scored with a header, the ball smashing down off the underside of the bar and over the line.
In another breakaway, Turner-Law showed wonderful opportunism to ram the ball home low down in to the corner of the Edina net to make it 3-1 and that was the score when the very competent referee Jim Markie blew his full-time whistle.
Edina Hibs v Bonnyrigg Rose (under-12s)
THE home club's fans had to wait until the final game for something to cheer as the under-12s came up with the goods, scoring four goals without reply against a very smart-moving Bonnyrigg Rose team in this Development League fixture.
This under-12 game was a refreshing experience for everyone on the touchlines.
There was never a dull moment and the final score was an injustice to the visiting team from Midlothian.
Bonnyrigg gave as good as they got in the first half and trailed by only 1-0 after John Inglis scored at the second attempt after the very good Bonnyrigg goalie had blocked the first shot.
Shortly after the restart, Edina went 2-0 up from a rocket shot from Jordan Easton.
The relentless attacking from the home side was rewarded with a third goal, this time from Marcus McDermid.
Bonnyrigg had a chance to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty, but the spot-kick went wide of the target. Before the finish, Easton added another to make it 4-0 at the final whistle.
These three games made this a very special Sunday indeed and to see the games played in lovely sunny weather was a wonderful boost to the game at this level.
The full article contains 633 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
