TOUGH FOR BLACKS IN FIRST EDINBURGH GAME 28-8-2008

MYS BLACKS 0 TYNECASTLE BOYS 4
(Wallyford, August 28, 2008)

We knew the Edinburgh league would be harder - and it is!

Despite the disappointing final score, Youngstars competed well and for a period of the first half, were certainly the better team.

Tynecastle started well with some neat passing manoeuvres and took the lead when their tall midfielder hammered a left-foot shot high into the net. They had lots of other long-range efforts but David - who had a great game - dealt with them all superbly. There were one or two very close shaves, though, especially a terrific scramble when Lloyd blocked the ball on the line before it ricocheted away off the angle of post and bar.

However, Youngstars came back strongly and a fierce shot on the turn by Seth was superbly tipped away by the Tynie keeper. He then saved well from Paul after a great move involving Seth and Lloyd, who both had further good opportunities as Youngstars played some excellent stuff up to the end of the first 30-minute half.

With 12 players available, we probably made too many changes at half-time - especially as Jack and Jason had been strong at the back in the face of some good Tynie attacking in the first half. However, we had a couple of good attacks involving Blair down the right before we paid for some poor marking and the visitors went 2-0 up.

There was then a crucial moment when Seth wriggled free down the right and pulled he ball back for Callum, who jabbed in a good shot on the run - but again, the keeper saved well and we couldn't get the ball in from the scramble that followed.

This could have made it 2-1 but Tynecastle then scored a brilliant goal when one of their forwards flicked a superb header just inside the post from a great cross. Connor and Cammy Dunlop were coming under real pressure as Musselburgh legs tired and heads dropped a bit when Tynecastle ran through to make it 4-0.

However, the boys carried on fighting and had another good period as Callum and Paul went close before the keeper made another brilliant save, tipping Paul's blaster over the bar.

This was a tough start but the boys did enough to show they can compete at this level - if we can take our chances at one end and close down the opposition more at the other.

Squad: David; Jack, Jason, Connor, Cameron D; Cameron B, Lloyd, Cal, Seth, Blair; Paul, Brandon