SSMFL Premier League

Lochend

Kick off 10.00am

Tynecastle 1 Victoria Park 2

Tynecastle welcomed Kevin Taylor and Chris Hughes back to the starting line up for this match as Victoria Park looked to avenge a 3-0 league cup defeat earlier this season.   The away side almost scored after a few minutes when a dangerous free kick was flighted beyond everybody but thankfully with no takers.

  Tynecastle looked to have taken the lead on ten minutes when an Anderson cross from the right was volleyed goalward form 12 yards by Cochrane, with the big ‘keeper pulling off a tremendous save the Tynecastle striker was first to react and bang in the rebound, only for the referee to disallow the strike for apparent offside, to the surprise of the defenders.   However the same two Tynecastle players combined again after half an hour to manufacture the goal that broke the deadlock, the away keeper fumbled the cross and Cochrane finished. No whistle this time, 1-0 Tynecastle.   Tynecastle took control of the game and with Devlin a virtual spectator at the other end Victoria Park were being pressed further back as we looked for a second. Good play in the last third saw the ball roll nicely as Anton McCann was about to let fly, the deflection fell nicely for Steven McGlinchey who finished well from close range….only for the strike again to be disallowed for another offside call.   Kevin Taylor, Cochrane and McCarthy with a header all went close before the interval.    

HT: Tynecastle 1  Victoria park 0

  The second period saw Tynecastle go all out for the second goal but it just would not go in, Cochrane and McGlinchey had chances but nothing would fall.   Good link up play between Cahill and Taylor allowed McCann to slide in on goal but his effort went agonisingly wide as the second goal now started to look unlikely despite our superior possession and chances created.   McGlinchey picked up an injury on the hour mark, although the striker was ok to carry on eventually after lengthy treatment, no free kick was given and it was looking like the day may be remembered for bizarre refereeing calls.

  We switched off and allowed Victoria Park back in to the match on 75 minutes when a well placed pass to the striker allowed him to home in on goal and despatch beyond Devlin.   With five minutes left and pushing for the winner we were dealt a killer blow after a poorly defended cross was met unchallenged by the midfielder at the back post, his header past Devlin proved to be the winner in what was a frustrating day for Tynecastle.

  Tynecastle: Devlin, Muir, S.Cahill, Watson, McCarthy, Hughes, McCann, Anderson, Taylor, Cochrane, McGlinchey

  Verdict: We looked comfortable for the most part in this game and restricted the away side to 3 or 4 chances. But there was nowhere near enough urgency in the second period at times to consolidate the win. Ultimately this gave Victoria park encouragement and they took advantage as any team would. It’s unacceptable to let an opposition back into the game in this manner.   This is not a platform to criticize refs trying to do a job and we would never go down that road. Only the referee will be able to answer why he disallowed two perfectly good goals from his fixed position at the centre circle with no player claiming offside.