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2014-15, Alloa Athletic, Development League, East Stirling, East Stirlingshire, Haddington Athletic, Heart of Midlothian, Hearts, Indodrill Stadium, Millfield Park, New Victoria Park, October 2014, Recreation Park, Scottish Cup, St Mirren, Under 20s, wandywatson, Whitehill Welfare
Saturday 4 October 2014, Ferguson Park
Today sees Scottish Cup football return to Ferguson Park, as Whitehill Welfare of the Lowland League take on Scottish League 2 side East Stirlingshire.
Welfare have played many ties in the Cup over the years, often games I have attended and my abiding memory of them tends to be that they play well but are unlucky. The obvious highlight is in 1996 when they defeated Fraserburgh 2-1 away from home after a 2-2 draw at home. This meant a home tie against Celtic. The tie was switched to Easter Road for safety reasons and Whitehill went down 3-0 in front of over 13000 fans. I was one of those in attendance that day and still remember Welfare hitting the post with the score still at 0-0.
After five consecutive seasons finishing bottom of the Scottish Football League in the mid-2000s, East Stirlingshire had a change of fortunes, when they achieved successive third place finishes in the Third Division between 2008 and 2010 to qualify for the promotion play-offs. Unfortunately, since then, they have finished 9th, 10th, 10th and 8th in the ten team league. Ironically, it was at this stage last season in the Scottish Cup that I saw East Stirlingshire, against another Lowland League side, Threave Rovers. East Stirling, these days playing their home games at Ochilview in a ground share with Stenhousemuir, won 6-0 that day.
The (almost) award winning programmes haven’t turned up as we arrive at the ground, but it certainly looks like a bit of tidying up around the place has happened since I was last here. The covered seating has certainly had a good clean. There are around 350 in attendance today. Like many of the Scottish Cup ties at non-league clubs, the admission has been increased for the game.
The programmes arrive around kickoff and I see that they have now put the price up to £2 instead of their usual £1. This brings them into line with pretty much everyone else at this level and I think this is a good move. (Although I don’t know if this is a one-off.)
Welfare make a bright start taking the game straight to their higher ranked opponents and when the ball is cut back for Dodds in two minutes, his shot is deflected wide. A couple of minutes later, Sommerville hammers over the bar after a cutback by McIntosh. Next, Dodds charges down a clearance and hits a shot wide from the edge of the box.
The away fans can be heard singing “When the Shire go up, to lift the Scottish Cup, we’ll be there!”
Shire start to get a foothold in the game and are starting to control more possession and an acrobatic effort from McKenna in 15 minutes goes straight into keeper Young’s arms.
A rehearsed corner from Whitehill in the 20th minute sees Dodds play to Sommerville on the edge of the box, who volleys the ball just over. Then Vidler bursts through the defence after a great one-two with McKenna from a wide position for Shire, but his effort is well saved.
It’s a very even game with both teams creating chances.
The home side have a shout for a penalty when a cross seems to come off a defender’s hand, but it would have been very harsh. The 27th minute sees a lovely move from Whitehill which culminates in a cross from wide which is just too high for Kidd, who heads over.
The inimitable home manager Mike Lawson is on usual form, shouting “Andy!” twelve times to get Andy Martin’s attention to tell him to “keep it going”.
In 36 minutes, Vidler sees his shot blocked and it spins to Greenhill who curls the ball wide, and then in 43 minutes, Greenhill takes the ball on the left wing for Shire and crosses for McKenna but Young manages to gather at the second attempt.
Whitehill start the second half strongly and a cross just two minutes in is met by McIntosh on the volley, but it goes wide.
Some confusion as Shire right back Greene, who got a bang in the face in the first half, has changed his jersey and now has the number 13 shirt. Clearly his original number 2 was covered in blood. He now has a plaster across his nose.
Kidd’s cross from the right is flicked on by Tapping when he attempts to clear in 50 minutes, and the ball goes through Barnard’s hands, but there isn’t a Whitehill player on hand to put the ball in. Three minutes later Barnard spills a header from Kidd from McIntosh’s cross, but Dodds couldn’t quite get to the ball before the keeper recovered.
In the 54th minute, it looks like the deadlock has been broken. A Martin cross was cleared as far as Manson, whose shot from the edge of the box was deflected and Barnard made a magnificent save to stop the ball going in, but the rebound fell to McIntosh who lashed the ball in, only to have his celebrations halted by the linesman’s flag.
Whitehill are on top and Shire look to alter the course of the game and Ivorian Guy Tahin comes on to make his debut in place of the ineffectual Brisbane. There’s 59 minutes gone.
Welfare force three corners in quick succession, but Shire are defending resolutely.
On the hour, Tahin wins the ball in midfield and played to Vidler who attempts a through ball which deflects perfectly into the path of McKenna, who shoots high into the net to open the scoring for the away side. Very harsh on Whitehill.
Shire almost added to their lead when Tahin nearly marked his debut with a goal when a long ball sent him through on goal, he outpaced the defence, but Young came off his line to make a fine save in 67 minutes. Then two minutes later, Greenhill’s header was deflected just wide as Shire looked to finish the game off.
A cross from Whitehill substitute Sproule was spilled by the keeper, but the defence managed to clear. The always dangerous McIntosh almost brought Welfare level in 72 minutes, but Barnard turned it round the post. The resultant corner saw McIntosh’s header clip the bar.
McIntosh seems to be making it his personal responsibility to bag his team a goal and a long ball into the box after 80 minutes sees him head wide with Barnard stranded.
Tahin sprints clear of the defence again in 82 minutes onto a through ball from Kinnaird in a break following a Whitehill corner, and with the chance to seal the win he tries to take it round Young, but the keeper times it perfectly when diving bravely at his feet.
Welfare have a glorious chance to equalise with just 2 minutes to go when McIntosh has a free header at the back post where he looked certain to score, but his header is going wide as Bolochoweckyj manages to get his head on it to deflect it for a corner.
Sproule miscontrols the ball in midfield as we reach injury time and he lunges to reach the ball and catches McCabe late. The referee, who had been increasingly fussy in the second half, shows him a straight red card, which looked a bit harsh to me.
East Stirling would have felt mightily relieved when the whistle blows for full time seconds later.
Another hard luck story for Welfare in the Scottish Cup against football league opponents, where they more than matched them. Bolochoweckyj and Tapping (younger brother of former Hearts midfielder Callum) look a good pairing in central defence and Tahin looks like a great signing for them. Welfare didn’t really have a failure in a hard-working performance and on another day, McIntosh could have had a hat-trick.
Full Time: Whitehill Welfare 0 East Stirlingshire 1
Admission: £8
Whitehill Welfare: 1 Young, 2 Hall, 3 McKenzie, 4 Martin, 5 Dodds, 6 McGlashan, 7 Manson (15 McLaughlin 79), 8 Kidd (12 Kerr 81), 9 McIntosh, 10 Somerville, 11 Thom (14 Sproule 71). Subs: 12 Kerr, 14 Sproule, 15 McLaughlin, 16 McDiarmid, 17 Noon, 21 Malcolm.
East Stirlingshire: 1 Barnard, 2 Greene (15 Kinnaird 64), 3 Gilmour, 4 Bolochoweckyj, Tapping, 6 Shields, 7 Greenhill, 8 McCabe, 9 Brisbane (12 Tahin 58), 10 McKenna (14 Doyle 74), 11 Vidler. Subs: 12 Tahin, 14 Doyle, 15 Kinnaird, 16 Kay, 17 Quinn, 18 Brennan, 19 MacGregor.
Referee: Steven Kirkland
Programme: £2
Saturday 11 October, Indodrill Stadium
It’s unseasonably warm as we park the car in Morrisons’ car park upon arriving in Alloa. Our attempt to get in the car park we usually go in was thwarted by a steward who asked if we were disabled. Bit harsh I thought. Apparently parking in the supermarket car park is the done thing.
It’s my second visit of the season to what is now called the Indodrill Stadium. (Sponsorship has a lot to answer for). This time, I’m here to see Alloa Athletic v Hearts. I’ve been to this ground many times before, but this will be the biggest crowd there has been when I’ve been in attendance. I end up standing behind the goals at the opposite end to where I was the last time. It’s not covered, or paved. Just a muddy banking.
Hearts come into the game sitting top of the Championship. In their eight games played in the league, they have won seven and drawn one. With second place (The) Rangers having their game at Cowdenbeath postponed due to one player being on International duty, they were giving the opportunity for the Jambos to go to 9 points clear with a win.
Alloa are second bottom of the Championship. Their home form though has been a revelation. They have only lost once, by the only goal to Raith Rovers in all home fixtures before this game. Including pre-season games, this incorporates seven fixtures. In their last two, they’ve beaten Hibs and drawn with Rangers.
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has prepared well for the game on Alloa’s plastic pitch, hiring the facilities during the week to give his players the chance to get a taste of what it is like.
Hearts have sold out their allocation of just under 2,200 in the 3,067 crowd. With the small stand full, the vast majority of supporters have gone to the sloped hill behind the goal. It’s very busy and there isn’t much room, which makes it difficult for some when a smoke bomb is let off in this area after about 5 minutes.
The visitors almost had a dream start, with Carrick having a chance to put Hearts in front inside 30 seconds, but he dragged his shot wide. It takes the home side 10 minutes to create their first chance, Cawley’s shot suffering a similar fate to Carrick’s.
Alloa’s work rate is tremendous and they aren’t giving the Hearts players any time on the ball. Hearts are struggling to get their passing game going.
Cawley has the next chance, this time putting the ball over the bar in the 16th minute. It’s then Carrick again, who shoots from outside the box in 26 minutes, but it’s just wide.
Ozturk has a chance from close range following a Hearts corner, but he lifts his effort over the bar from close range in 28 minutes, then a minute later, Walker has a good run and shoots from the edge of the box, but he hits the post.
It’s hectic stuff and Hearts can’t get their passing game going.
The home side finish the half strongly. Benedictus heads over in 39 minutes then Buchanan has a shot blocked from inside the box. Holmes then sends Cawley through and he looks to have got the ball past Alexander, but the keeper dives at his feet to save. We reach half time still goalless and it’s another of the so called ‘big teams’ that come to Alloa and find them a tough nut to crack.
Hearts make a couple of substitutions, but the second half is going the same way as the first. The first real chance of the second half falls to Sow in the 59th minute, but his effort is too high when King cuts the ball back from the goal line.
The away team is having their best spell of the game now and in the 63rd minute, Prince Buaben is unlucky to see his shot from outside the box go wide. King tries his luck 4 minutes later, but his shot sails wide. The 70th minute sees Sow being the next to send a shot wide.
Hearts make their final subsitution with 18 minutes to go in an attempt to snatch the points, but it’s Alloa that look like finishing the stronger and Cawley’s shot is blocked but falls to McCord, but his shot goes agonisingly wide.
Ferns looked certain to give Alloa the lead when he beat the offside trap, but he could only clip the post as his effort went wide.
With time running out, Hearts were reduced to 10 men when Wilson had to go off injured and they had already used all of their permitted substitutions.
Against all the odds, Hearts got their noses in front with just three minutes remaining, when Eckersley’s free kick from well out was missed by everyone and clipped a defender on the knee before beating the despairing dive of McDowall sending the majority of the crowd wild.
Alloa tried to get an equaliser, but couldn’t create another opportunity.
The home side must have been gutted to finish empty handed after a great performance. The work rate throughout and closing down was exemplary. You expected them to tire, but they didn’t and there wasn’t a failure in their side. Special mention to Gordon, McCord and Cawley.
Not many Hearts players would have been pleased with their performance with the notable exception of Alexander, but they never gave up.
Full Time: Alloa Athletic 0 Heart of Midlothian 1
Admission: £18
Alloa Athletic: 21 McDowall, 17 Doyle, 4 Gordon, 14 Benedictus, 3 Docherty, 7 Cawley, 6 Simmons, 8 McCord, 10 Holmes, 19 Buchanan, 9 Spence (Ferns 54). Subs: 2 Tiffoney, 5 Meggatt, 11 Ferns, 15 Marr, 18 Hetherington, 20 Asghar, 31 Couser.
Hearts: 1 Alexander, 30 McGhee (Paterson 51), 5 Ozturk, 4 Wilson, 44 Eckersley, 12 King, 6 Gomis, 17 Buaben, 7 Walker (El Hassnaoui 73), 20 Sow, 18 Carrick ( Nicholson 45), Subs: 2 Paterson, 3 McHattie, 9 El Hassnaoui, 10 Holt, 11 Nicholson, 13 Hamilton, 14 Pallardo.
Referee: Calum Murray
Programme: £2
Sunday 12 October, Millfield Park
I’ve had Millfield on my list to go to since the start of the season. I worked briefly beside their current manager Johnny Harvey and saw him play often for Penicuik Athletic. Harvey led Edinburgh United to the South Division championship last year in his first full season in management after they had finished bottom of the league in the two seasons before his arrival. So it was a bit of a surprise when he left the team he had led to the East Premier League to go to a club who was attempting to get there.
It’s reported that Harvey was finding it difficult to attract players to the Edinburgh club and when Haddington Athletic came calling, he jumped at the chance to go to a team he considered had a higher profile. At the time of writing, both teams are top of their respective leagues.
This afternoon sees Haddington Athletic play Hearts Under 20s as part of the home side’s 75 year anniversary celebrations. The two clubs have had a strong affiliation ever since Hearts donated a set of strips to the East Lothian side in 1939, their year of formation. The “Hi-His” still play in maroon to this day.
Hearts have brought a very young squad with them, which includes 4 trialists and a 13 year old. Trialists are keeper Pollok, left back Kean, forward Clout and substitute striker Hunter.
We miss the first couple of minutes but enter to a crowd of around 200 in attendance. Pretty much every time I see a junior side, it seems to be David Doig refereeing and here he is yet again.
After 11 minutes, Roy is put through on goal and he brings out a good save from home goalkeeper McQueen.
Haddington are forced into an early substitution after 13 minutes with number 12 replacing Smith.
It’s all Hearts and they seem to be almost queueing up to have efforts at goal as the Haddington defence find themselves under constant pressure. In the 17th minute the sub gives the ball away but the keeper is on hand to stop the effort on goal. A minute later, a nice one-two between Smith and Roy results in the former having an effort on goal, but he didn’t catch it well and it’s an easy save for the keeper.
Flanagan plays the ball through to Roy in the 20th minute, but once again, it’s straight at McQueen. A good forward run from Henderson after 27 minutes sees him play the ball to Flanagan, but he lifts his shot over the bar. Two minutes later, Smith makes a dart forward and finds Flanagan, but he can’t get any power in his shot.
Henderson charges forward from his defensive midfield position and strikes the ball from outside the box, but McQueen holds the ball well. Haddington are defending resolutely, but Hearts should have taken at least one of the chances they have created.
In 35 minutes, Kean tries his luck from outside the box, but with McQueen well beaten, the ball goes wide. Kean tries to influence the game again in 37 minutes with a great cross from the byline which goes over the keeper’s head, but R Ferguson manages to head the ball clear.
With 7 minutes to half time, slick passing between Smith, McKirdy and Roy creates another chance for Hearts, but again, Roy’s shot is too close to McQueen. The 40th minute sees Smith cutting in from the left, but the keeper manages to turn it round the post for a Hearts corner.
Roy turns provider with a two minutes to half time with a ball to Kean, but McQueen is out quickly to save at his feet. The keeper, who has managed to get some part of his body in the way of everything, almost gifts the opening goal when he nearly drops the ball when ready to kick out.
Right on half time, with Haddington having a rare shot of the ball, Smith tackles well and the ball flies into the crowd and hits a small dog, whose yelp can be heard all round the ground. Moments later, the first half is (r)over.
Special mention must go to the scotch pie on sale at the ground. While looking like a steak pie due to its puffy top, it was absolutely packed with mince and tasted very good. All for £1!
Haddington make two substitutions at half time, one of the players coming on is Alan Horne, making a guest appearance from Bonnyrigg Rose.
Hearts substitute Hunter almost makes the difference after 50 minutes, when he hits the ball across the goal and R Ferguson makes a desperate attempt to clear from close range, but he hammers the ball in the direction of his own goal. It hits the crouching McQueen square in the face and bounces clear. The keeper got a sore one, but the smiles on the faces of the players, ref and fans suggest he isn’t getting much sympathy. (Including one of his team mates telling him it was a “great save”.)
Haddington manager Harvey then brings himself on as sub, not wanting to miss out on the fun any longer.
The changes are finally bringing the home side a little more into the game and a good run from Harvey in 63 minutes sees him play the ball wide where it is crossed to the back post where Buchanan is forced to turn the ball behind.
Hearts break quickly from the Haddington corner and McQueen does well to save at Buchanan’s feet.
The opening goal finally came in 73 minutes. Henderson showed good skill in midfield and he played in Buchanan on the right. The full back burst into the box and appeared to be clipped, but stayed on his feet and fired the ball low and hard into the box where the luckless Motion turned the ball into his own net to give Hearts the lead.
The 81st minute sees a great flick on by Harvey to Marshall, who hits the ball in off the post for an unlikely equaliser, but the flag was up for offside. Harvey is proving he still has something despite his retirement and has the confidence to try a shot from inside his own half, but it’s well wide.
With a minute left, an attempted through ball from McKirdy is deflected into the path of Hunter, who puts the ball beyond McQueen into the bottom corner for Hearts second. The same two players combine in the last minute, and this time Hunter sidesteps a defender before beating McQueen again.
Hearts trialist keeper only touched the ball once in the first half, to take a goal kick, such was Hearts dominance, but the home side made a bit more of a fight of it in the second half. The addition of Horne and Harvey making a difference. Henderson had a good game in the engine room for Hearts and McKirdy’s energy and effort was impressive for Hearts. Roy looked lively but should have scored and Smith played well on the left wing. Mentions also have to go to Hunter, who is on Spartans’ books for two fine finishes and substitute Hamilton, who passed the ball well despite being only 13.
Amazing with Hearts total first half dominance that all the goals were in the second half, but Haddington were tiring at the end.
Full Time: Haddington Athletic 0 Hearts Under 20s 3
Admission: £4
Haddington Athletic: McQueen Marshall Wojtowycz R Ferguson Motion Porteous J Ferguson Berry Murray Wood Smith. Subs: Slight Gallagher Small Harvey Polowyj
Hearts Under 20s: Pollock Buchanan Kean Gordon Page Henderson Flanagan McKirdy Roy Clout Smith. Subs: Brown Hunter Hamilton Yassein Crawford Ross.
Referee: David Doig.
Programme: £2
Wednesday 15 October, New Victoria Park
The Hearts fest continues as I take in the Under 20s against St Mirren’s side. Although I’d make no apologies for seeing them so much, it just happened to be the games that were being played at the times I was free.
The young Hearts side is very different from the one which played at Millfield on Sunday. As has been the case throughout their programme in the Development League, they have taken the opportunity to field a few first team squad players to get fitness and/or games. Tonight’s team sees Reserve goalkeeper Gallacher start, along with Brad McKay, Kevin McHattie, Dale Carrick and recent Spanish signing Miguel Pallardo.
The St Mirren youngsters have lost their last two games before tonight and will be looking to stop the rot. They have a young team out. Special mention has to go to their migraine inducing away kit.
St Mirren attack straight from kick off and Whyte sends a powerful effort over the bar from outside the box in the first minute, before Brown has a shot deflected wide a minute later.
The Saints are firm in the tackle and are certainly up for this, but it’s Henderson who has the first bad challenge after 5 minutes, looking like he was late and two footed, but the referee gave him the benefit of the doubt.
McKirdy has Hearts first effort at goal in the 12th minute, shooting from the edge of the box, but keeper Wilks holds on well.
Disaster for the home side with 13 minutes gone when a short passback is intercepted by Morgan who nips past Gallacher and nets to put the Saints in front.
Beith’s range of passing is impressive for Hearts, but he is lucky to escape a booking after a late challenge in 25 minutes.
A good run by Smith down the right sees him pass inside to Buchanan, but his shot is blocked and Hearts chance for an equaliser is gone. Williams and Baird are impressive at the back for St Mirren and are giving Hearts little in the way of chances. Carrick seems isolated up front and is devoid of opportunities.
In the 38th minute, a free kick from St Mirren appeared to wrong foot Gallacher, but he recovered to save.
McHattie, who seems to have spent most of the first half arguing with the linesman, comes forward in 41 minutes but overruns the ball and aims a kick at the defender who takes the ball off him. This results in him having a pushing match with Baird and the referee books them both. The Hearts defender was very lucky not to be sent off.
With three minutes to half time, Brown goes on a great run from his own half and makes it all the way to the edge of the Hearts box, but he finishes with a poor shot.
Pallardo has the first effort of the second half. The Hearts midfielder firing over the bar from long range.
A good move by St Mirren in 52 minutes, with a long run from Brown sees him lay the ball off to Stewart, who finds McDonald, but his low effort is comfortably saved by Gallacher. Saints then break in 55 minutes, With Brown playing the ball to McDonald, whose shot leaves Gallacher motionless, but comes back off the post.
Brown, who is becoming more and more prominent, has a great chance to add to the away side’s lead, but he shoots straight at the keeper in the 56th minute. Two minutes later, a quick break from Hearts sees Beith lay the ball wide to substitute Flanagan, who cuts inside and then sends his shot over the bar.
The 65th minute sees Brown coming forward again and he plays a great ball in behind the defence to Stewart, but he shoots too close to the keeper. St Mirren are certainly looking the more likely for the next goal.
The tackling has been tough all the way through, but McKirdy appears to go in with his studs up in the 74th minute, but the ref (who has the strangest run I have ever seen) takes no action.
With 13 minutes to go, Flanagan plays a great crossfield ball to the overlapping L Smith, whose cross is met by Carrick’s downward header, but it bounces over the bar. Soon after, Carrick is chasing the ball into the corner and pulls up with a hamstring injury.
As the clock ticks past the 90 minute mark, the ball is played back to Beattie on the edge of the box and the St Mirren forward curls the ball into the top corner for a deserved second goal for the away side.
Brown and Stewart were impressive for a battling Saints side, with Pallardo neat and tidy for Hearts, without setting the heather on fire. McHattie looked as if he thought this was beneath him and worrying news for Hearts about Carrick. Henderson, who played so well at Haddington in a defensive midfield role didn’t play as well on the left wing.
A deserved win for St Mirren.
Full Time: Hearts Under 20s 0 St Mirren Under 20s 2
Admission: £3
Hearts: 1 Gallacher, 2 L Smith, 3 McHattie, 4 Gordon, 5 McKay, 6 Pallardo, 7 Buchanan, 8 McKirdy, 9 Carrick, 10 Beith, 11 Henderson. Subs: Brown, Roy, I Smith, Flanagan, Page.
St Mirren: 1 Wilks, 2 Cuddihy, 3 Stewart, 4 Williams, 5 Barrowman, 6 Baird, 7 Whyte, 8 Mallan, 9 McDonald, 10 Morgan, 11 Brown. Used Subs: Beattie, O’Keefe, Mitchell.
Programme: None.
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