City get out of jail in Saughton shoot-out

EDINBURGH CITY claimed another piece of silverware in their all-conquering season by beating Tynecastle 4-2 on penalties to win the South East Region under-17 Prison Officers' Cup at Saughton Enclosure.

Scottish Cup winners City prevailed in a tense shoot-out after the teams were locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Tynecastle were left to try to put their disappointment to one side as they prepared to do battle with City again in the final of the Craig Gowans Memorial Trophy later today.

City's victory at Saughton epitomised the winning spirit they have shown this season.

Three cup final victories, including the Scottish Cup at Airdrie last month, has reinforced their position as a dominant force of Edinburgh youth football at this level.

However, it was Tynecastle who were first out of the traps with some early pressure.

The industrious Conor Edmonds began to dictate play in the middle of the park with a superb range of passing to his alert strikeforce but City put a halt to any Tynecastle openings and steadily began to carve out chances for themselves.

They hadn't really tested Steven Hay in the Tynecastle goal before he found himself picking the ball out of his net midway through the first half.

A ball from the middle of the park caught the Tynecastle defence off-guard and Nicholas Locke put the ball past the out-rushing Hay and into the corner of the net to send City 1-0 up.

Tynecastle responded emphatically and were level five minutes later.

With his back to goal, striker Jamie Devlin managed to turn his opponent on the touchline, cut in and unleash a stunning drive into the top left-hand corner from 25 yards.

Both sides had chances to take the lead before the break but Hay produced a stunning save from Kenny O'Brien and again from Ryan Hutchison's strike from the edge of the area.

Then Devlin thought his header was net-bound until City keeper Tulloch tipped it over the bar.

The second half was as tense as the first and both sides passed up chances due to a combination of wasteful finishing and top-class saves.

The closest any side came to avoiding the dreaded penalty kicks arrived in the last minute of extra-time.

Locke gathered the ball wide on the right and, with great feet, manoeuvred his way into the Tynecastle box and hit a left-footed shot which cracked off the far post.

Edinburgh City were the more composed side in the penalty shoot-out with Tynecastle's Andrew Jones and Paul Fergie left to rue their failure to convert from the 12-yard spot as City clinched the win.

Edinburgh City coach Ross McNeil was elated after a pulsating game and emphasised the success his side have achieved in a memorable season.

He said: "I thought it was quite an even game but we've managed to come out on top three times now against Tynecastle so we're delighted and that's now the fourth trophy we have won so it has been a great season."

Tynecastle FC: Steven Hay, Kieran Watson, Bruce Cunningham, Conor Edmonds, Andrew Jones, David Liddle, Rury Fleming, Paul Fergie, Jamie Devlin, Craig Robertson, Matthew Skene, Laurie Preston, Jamie Anderson, Dean Millar.

Edinburgh City FC: Craig Tulloch, Liam Smith, Kayne Paterson, Brad McKay, Michael Travis, David McNeil, Nicholas Locke, Jordan Thomson, Gavin Pettigrew, Tinashe Mukundwa, Craig Sinclair, Dale Cornet, Ross Yeoman, Jake Moyes, Kenny O'Brien, Ryan Hutchison.