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Match Report
Hearts Fans 3 - Hibs Fans 4
TYNECASTLE hosted the third annual Edinburgh Charity Cup match
yesterday – and, after a thrilling match between Hibs and Hearts
supporters it was Hibs skipper Duncan Smith who lifted the trophy for a
second consecutive year.
The competition was this year sponsored by SBS Live Computer Support, and
Maggie's Cancer Centre, based at the Western General Hospital, was chosen
by the fans as this year's beneficiary.
Hibs got off to a perfect start after seven minutes with right back Graham
Miller tucking away the opener from close range following attempts by
captain Smith and Daniel Burns which had been parried by Hearts keeper
Bruce Pringle. And, six minutes later, David Wright made it two, this time
from the penalty spot following Duncan Anderson's handball.
Hibs were in control throughout the first half and it came as no surprise
when they further extended their lead five minutes before the interval
when Miller doubled his tally with a spectacular 25-yard effort which left
Pringle stranded. Hibs could have had four before the break but Smith's
powerful effort ricocheted off the right-hand post on the stroke of
half-time.
Both sides made changes as the second half progressed but, when Burns
whipped the ball across goal from the byline Scott Miller was on hand to
make it 4-0 with just over an hour played and it looked like the match was
over.
With 20 minutes remaining Niall Dolan scored what appeared to be a
consolation goal for the home side. However, when a Hibs defender was
adjudged to have handled in the area, Russell Hogarth further reduced the
deficit from the spot with ten minutes remaining and set up an
entertaining finale. Hearts' renewed confidence saw the Hibs goal under
siege and, with three minutes remaining, Hogarth was again on hand to set
up Craig Dickson, who lashed the ball past Hibs' substitute keeper Geoff
Hunter and set up a tense five minutes of injury time.
But the visitors held on to leave Hibs' coach Fraser Ogilvie, a former
youth player at Easter Road, delighted. He said: "I didn't expect to be
three up at half-time and it was probably the worst thing that could have
happened to us as we dropped off in the second half. A half-time team talk
is hard in those circumstances as the adrenalin is pumping and we were
just trying to hold it together when Hearts started to come at us.
"I made changes when I felt it necessary and overall I'm proud of the
boys, they've rallied well. And when Hearts scored their third we didn't
panic. Charity is the winner at the end of the day. though, everyone is
here for the same reason and hopefully we raised quite a lot of money."
Hearts' captain Brian Whitson felt his side had done enough in the second
half to make the match a contest. He said: "I think the motivation was
there at half-time in that we didn't want to embarrass ourselves. The boys
did well in the second half, but we're gutted overall."
Skipper Smith felt the Hibees had to dig deep in the second half but was
delighted to once again pick up the silverware. He said: "It feels
fantastic to be here as Hibs captain once again and this match is all
about the hard work which the guys have put in for both teams. To be three
up at half-time and then score a fourth, and then manage to hold on to our
lead, was fantastic.
"I told the players at half-time we needed to treat the game as if it was
all square as Hearts would come at us a lot more than they had opened the
match. We struggled a bit in the second half, but overall I think we did
very well and our character was great to hold out. Credit to the Hearts
players to bring it back to 4-3, though, especially having been three
goals behind. We raised £13,500 last year and hopefully we will eclipse
that this year. I'd hope to be back here again next year for another go
too!"
John Pryde, a member of the Edinburgh Charity Cup committee, said: "It was
certainly nervous stuff at the end! For Hibs to have gone four up and for
it to be 4-3 with a minute or so remaining meant it was certainly a close
call at the end. However, the result is only one part of the day as the
real winner, no matter how the game goes, is charity.
"We're proud to be helping Maggie's Cancer Care achieve what they're doing
and the money will go a long way to helping them in that. We hope to once
again have the backing of Hibs next year and for the return game to be
played at Easter Road."
Hearts: Pringle, Nisbet, Anderson, Whitson, Cairns, Bishop,
Murray, Kiakowski, McCabe, Dickson, Hogarth. Subs: Dolan, Moncrieff, Sim,
Li, Alexander, Tod, Anderson, Dalgleish, McDonald.
Hibs: Auld, Miller, McRae, Black, Gillon, Pryde, Mann,
Smith, Burns, Millar, Wright. Subs: Law, Hunter, Lally, Anderson, McGlade,
Lowe, Laws.
By JAMES McGACHIE @ The Edinburgh Evening News -
www.edinburghnews.com
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