WHEN Hibs visit Tynecastle the fireworks come as standard, and the South East Region under-14 Bill Sheridan Cup tie proved no exception.
The visit of Edina Hibs to face Tynie at Saughton was billed as the clash of the top two Division 1 sides, both of whom retain proud 100 per cent records after eight league games each.
The three goals, each of them bulging the net of despairing Ty
nie goalkeeper Cameron Tulloch, were greeted with such rapture from the sidelines as to momentarily create the crazed atmosphere of a typical derby.
Azad Okan, Edina's talismanic No.10, was the inspiration behind the victory with two sensational first-half goals. Okan's uncomplicated but lethal finishing was complemented by a virtuoso showing from fellow attacker Conor Welsh, who added the third and decisive goal shortly after half-time.
From the coolness of central defenders William McPhee and John Pearson to their lively forward line, Edina appeared more assured in the opening half and were duly rewarded for their patience and pinpoint passing with two goals.
On four minutes, Welsh exposed the left side of Tynie's defence with a clever pass to Okan, who, from the right side of the penalty area, managed to impart his shot with both power and precision and the ball flew across goal and into the left-hand corner.
Half an hour later, on the opposite flank, Okan took a pass from Sam Nicol and meted out the same punishment to a lacklustre home rearguard, his shot again heading for the far corner and past goalkeeper Tulloch.
Edina coach Scott Bonar praised his two-goal striker after the game but felt his players were the victims of some rash tackling. "Azad's really improved this season – his two goals were exceptional, absolute carbon copies. The main thing at the end of the season is that these players become better. I've got a philosophy of passing and moving, and working more on the technical side of the game. Martin Owens (Bonar's fellow coach] and I have put a lot of work in to try to get this across and the only aim is to improve – to win anything would be a bonus. "I felt some tackles were quite severe, though, and that referees need to be stronger to protect players. If we're going to produce players like your Azad Okans, that's an issue that needs to be addressed."
Okan was again busy in front of goal in the second half, but was unable to add to his tally. Instead, that job was left to Welsh, whose 45th-minute goal was simple but effectively ended the contest.
A Jed Davie corner fell perfectly to the right-winger at the far post and he touched the ball into the gaping net.
Key to their victory was Edina's ability to close down quickly when Tynecastle had possession and consistently regain the ball. In the latter stages, Tynie concentrated on honing their passing ability and limiting Edina to few further goalscoring chances, but the hosts couldn't invoke sufficient momentum of their own to carve out an opening.
"Three-nil was not a result we expected, but one we have worked hard for," said Hibs coach Bonar. "Last season, Tynecastle were the benchmark, so the laddies have put a lot of effort in to try to match them this season. It's really not just about the winning, it's about the development of these lads.
"I think there'll be a lot of big games between the clubs this year. We suffered a few disappointments against Tynecastle last season, but we have now proved we can more than match them on their home ground."
Tynecastle: Cameron Tulloch, Gregor Lockhart, Neil Martyniuk, Mikey Hamilton, Brad Campsie, Euan Lannon, Andrew McBride, Cameron Young, Mark Wilkie, George Hunter, Blake Wales, Sean Elliot, Andrew Mair, Liam McNeill, Callum Marr, Liam Watson.
Edina Hibs: Daniel Kerr, Callum Livingstone, Sam Nicol, Max Landles, William McPhee, John Pearson, Scott Taylor MacKenzie, Dylan Clark, Jordan Combe, Azad Okan, Ross Anderson, Marcus Campanile, Conor Welsh, George Hairs, Jed Davie.
EDINA Hibs' Soccer School continues to attract youngsters who are keen to learn to play the game. Anyone interested in enrolling a child born between 2001-2004 should contact Scott Bonar on 0786 310 4344.
