MATCH REPORTS by Shane Fenton
Photos by Jane Barr
Saturday 29th March 2008
STAR HEARTS -----2 (Hutchison,7m, R.Napier,35m)
A spirited second half comeback from the homesters saw them book a semi-final place in the M.H. Engineering League Cup against a Hearts side who thought the job was done going in at the break with a 2-0 lead.
Hearts went in front after only seven minutes, a Graham Soutar free-kick was turned away for a corner, from Brendan Napier's resultant flag kick Gary Hutchison rose at the back post to nod home.
The
The visitors were gifted a second goal in 35 minutes, a ball into the City half saw home 'keeper Craig Sutherland race from his box to clear, the ball however took a horrible bobble and Sutherland made a complete hash of clearing, Ronnie Napier was first to react, and he nipped in to steal the ball and run a few steps forward before stroking into the empty net.
City responded, and Ward pulled an effort wide of the target, then a header from full back Craig Fraser was gathered by Pratt.
City came out a transformed side in the second period as the visitors looked happy to sit on their two goal advantage.
A Birrell centre was cleared away by Rab Martin as Ian Honeyman was about to pick his spot.
City eventually got on the scoreboard in 56 minutes, a Ward corner wasn't properly dealt with by Pratt who pushed the ball back across the front of the goal, and Colin Young was on the spot to head home from close in.
This goal inspired the home side and they were back on level terms midway through the half, a hand ball from Martin saw the referee point to the penalty spot and McGillvary stepped up to slam the ball past Pratt.
The impetus gained from the equaliser was palpable and Pratt had to react to deal with a McGillvary header as City had their sights on a winner.
Back at the other end a Mark Reilly strike dipped over the crossbar.
Fair City's comeback was complete in 82 minutes, a Fraser free kick from out on the right flank saw Young ghost in at the front post to guide the ball over the line to take his side in to the last four and punish a Hearts side who took their foot off the pedal in the second period and were punished.
FAIR CITY- Sutherland; Fraser; Honeyman; Wann; Murray; Collman; McGillvary; Young; Ward; A.Birrell; Swan.
SUBS- L.Birrell; Wylie; McKay; G.Birrell; Williamson.
STAR HEARTS- Pratt; Douglas; Nicholson; Soutar; Martin; Hutchinson; Greenlaw; B.Napier; R.Napier; Reilly; Paterson.
SUBS- Spence,Sullivan,Laidlaw,Grieve,Clements.
Referee, Mr C. Wilson.
Saturday 22nd March 2008
BALGONIE
STAR HEARTS -----2 (R.Napier – 16 & 35mins)
This second round Scottish Brewers cup tie produced little to warm the cockles of the hardy few who braved the bitterly cold conditions.
The game was preceded by a minutes silence for Sandy Bell a member of Star Hearts Scottish Cup winning side who had sadly passed away earlier in the week.
The match itself was then barely a minute old when Star lost the services of 'keeper Chris Pratt who was struck in the eye from the boot of Scott McGregor following a challenge on the edge of the box.
Chris had to leave the field and head to the hospital where he had stitches inserted. Outfield player, Gordon Grieve, who himself was returning from injury came off the bench to don the custodian's jersey.
Star were soon taking the game to
Hearts moved in front on the 16th minute mark, a darting run from Martin Woods took him down the left flank before sending the ball into the path of Ronnie Napier who sweetly dispatched it beyond 'keeper Andrew Cuthbert from 16 yards.
The visitors continued to press and a long ball from Napier found Kevin Laidlaw whose effort on goal was just wide.
It was then Laidlaw's turn to set up Napier whose header screwed wide of the upright.
In a rare foray up the other end Martin Payne send in a drive which was turned away by Grieve for a corner. The resultant flag-kick saw the ball break for Jason Shepherd and he sent in a low drive which whizzed past the upright.
Hearts doubled their advantage in 35 minutes, Graham Soutar swung in a deep cross, the ball found Napier lurking at the back post and his perfectly timed header flew passed Cuthbert.
Michael Sullivan then saw an effort crash back off the post.
The second period was uneventful to say the least with neither side creating anything of note in the arctic conditions.
(no further score from this corner kick)
David Hutchison became the fourth goalkeeper on show when he came on to replace Cuthbert in the
Despite the introduction of subs Brendan Napier and Ryan Clark, Hearts huffed and puffed but never really looked like adding to their tally.
(Gordon making a confident clearance)
Michael Valente sent in a long range free kick for the homesters but it sailed high of the crossbar. Payne then jinxed past a couple of markers before pulling his effort on goal wide.
All concerned were then glad to hear the final blast of referee Chris Wilson's whistle to return to the warmth of the changing rooms.
BALGONIE SCOTIA :-Cuthbert; Sword; Valente; Malcolm; Stewart; Shepherd; Donald; Payne; McGregor; McDonald; Steedman.
SUBS: - Mitchell; Grewar; Hutchison; Young.
STAR HEARTS:- Pratt; Spence; Nicholson; Soutar; Douglas; Hutchison; Sullivan; Greenlaw; R.Napier; Laidlaw; Woods.
SUBS: - B.Napier; Clark; Paterson; Grieve; Martin.
Referee-Mr C
Saturday 15th March 2008
STAR HEARTS --- 1 KETTLE UNITED --- 1
[Reilly, 23mins] [Cambell,26mins]
[After Extra-Time, Kettle United won 3-2 on penalty kicks.]
With the wind for once staying away and the
Star won a couple of early free-kicks before Kettle got in the first shot with Jamie Leslie sending in a drive which was easily gathered by keeper Chris Pratt. At the other end Michael Sullivan sent a low shot raking across the goal area where it found no takers and inched past the upright.
Kettle responded with Chris McKie whipping in a teasing cross which was met by Kevin Mitchell and his looping header came back of the post and cleared.
The home side eventually broke the deadlock in the 23 minute, after a determined piece of play from Brendan Napier the ball broke out to Steve Greenlaw coming in from the left flank, he delicately laid the ball into the path of Mark Reilly who promptly swept it high past keeper Peter Kerrigan.
The lead was to last all of three minutes before the visitors restored parity. Referee Neil Martin awarded a free kick out on the left touchline; Mitchell delivered the ball into the box and the towering Willie Campbell rose to send a glancing header beyond Pratt. Kettle continued to press and Pratt had to deal with a
Back at the other end Reilly set up Greenlaw who curled in a shot which was gathered by Kerrigan.
Just after the restart Hearts were awarded a free kick 20 yards out but Ronnie Napier's effort flew high of the crossbar.
(Ronnie's effort goes high)
Star then won a handful of corners in rapid succession, the nearest they came was a Reilly header which flew wide of the target.
(Mark Reilly's effort goes wide)
A throw-in into the Star box broke to McKie and his crisp drive from 15 yards was blocked by Stevie Paterson. Substitute Bruce Simpson then curled in a free kick which went straight through to Pratt.
Both sides were searching for a winner and a
(Kettle keeper makes a crucial save)
The 90 minutes ended with Craig Nicholson heading over his own crossbar from a dangerous McKie cross.
Both sides had chances to win the game in the extra-time period.
Mitchell laid the ball into the path of
It was now Hearts turn to go close, a Sullivan corner was met by substitute Martin Woods whose effort came back off the upright.
There would be no further action and this well-contested cup-tie would be decided by the lottery of penalty-kicks. Woods and Reilly netted for Star, however strikes from Thomson, Simpson and Campbell sent Kettle into the last four and leave Hearts to reflect on their first reverse in 2008.
STAR HEARTS:-Pratt; Spence; Nicholson; Soutar; Martin; B.Napier; Sullivan; R.Napier; Greenlaw; Reilly; Paterson.
SUBS:- Clark; Woods;
KETTLE UNITED:-Kerrigan; Wilson; G.Simpson; Thomson; Stripe; Leslie; McKie; Mitchell; Campbell; Hampton; Law.
SUBS:- Wainwright; Beveridge; B.Simpson; Gallagher; Baxter.
Referee:- Mr N. Martin.
Saturday 1st March 2008
STAR HEARTS....4 Sullivan (31pen) ;Reilly (76); B.Napier (82); Woods (87).
Just like the previous week the wind was howling around
It was the homesters who were first to threaten with a speculative long-ranger from Brendan Napier drifting high over the crossbar.
City were quick to respond with Andrew Birrell playing in Alex Wylie whose low drive forced 'keeper Chris Pratt into action.
Hearts fullback Stevie Paterson then got into the visitors’ box, side-stepped a defender before firing the ball into the side-netting.
The
Hearts continued to press and Gary Hutchison met a Michael Sullivan corner but couldn't get enough on it and his headed effort cleared the crossbar.
As play swung from end to end Wylie fired in a shot for City only to see the ball blocked away by the legs of Rab Martin.
Star eventually broke the deadlock in 31 minutes, referee Paul McAvinue adjudged a City player had handled the ball, and from the resultant spot-kick, Sullivan steered the ball past Garry Birrell.
City then won a free-kick on the edge of the box just before the interval, Craig Stephens effort on goal however cleared the perimeter fence and only succeeded in disturbing the grazing cattle in the adjoining field.
An injury to Star full back Michael Spence forced him to stay in the dressing room at half-time to be replaced by Steve Greenlaw who was making his 100th appearance for the Treaton side,
Hearts continued to press and Ronnie Napier who was making his debut for the club sent the ball across the danger area, and with the goal gaping Sullivan was only inches away from connecting.
Paterson then rolled the ball into the path of Martin, and from just inside the City half he lashed the ball goalwards, and with the wind playing tricks it flew over Birrell's head and crashed off the upright.
The
As the game entered it's closing stages it was the home side who looked the more likely to score and so it proved in the 76th minute, Ronnie Napier found space down the left before sending the ball low into the box where Mark Reilly just beat keeper Birrell to it, to squeeze it past him into the net.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men at this stage with the referee sending goalscorer Albawani packing for appearing to talk out of turn.
City weren't done with yet, a deflected drive from Craig Fraser broke to Andrew Birrell and his angular drive forced Pratt into a fine one-handed save.
Star gave themselves breathing space in 82mins with a third counter; a good 1-2 between Greenlaw and Brendan Napier bisected the home defence for the latter to sweep the ball low into the net from ten yards.
If Hearts needed confirmation that the points were already bagged it came with three minutes remaining, Greenlaw picked out substitute Martin Woods with a finely judged pass and he cracked an angular drive past Birrell from 15 yards.
The sides meet again this Saturday, this time at
STAR HEARTS Pratt,Nicholson,Martin,Soutar,Hutchison,Sullivan,B.Napier,R.Napier,
Reilly,Paterson,Sullivan.SUBS=Greenlaw,Clark,Laidlaw,Woods,Brown,Bell.
FAIR CITY G.Birrell,Fraser,Honeyman,Wann,Coleman,Wylie,Jones,Young,Stephen,
A.Birrell,Williamson.SUBS=Albawani,L.Birrell,McGillvary,Ramsay,Cavalini.
Referee=P.McAvinue.
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