Easthouses' prowess in front of goal strikes out off-colour Merchi

The Midlothian side will face Spartans Reds, Edinburgh South, or Currie BC in the competition decider after striking a goal in each half at Harrison Park courtesy of Ross Moir and Callum Bain.

North Merchi had hurdled the considerable obstacle of league leaders Edina Hibs Colts, unbeaten in Division 2, in the previous round to set up this semifinal meeting, but Easthouses showed more skill and composure than their off-colour hosts to deservedly claim the first final berth.

Merchi should have harboured sufficient confidence following their earlier exploits in the knockout tournament to be able to take the game to their opponents, but instead their players were quick to get rid of the ball and reluctant to run at the Easthouses defence and the two goals displayed the variety in the visitors' shooting prowess and proved the matchwinners.

Moir set the ball rolling - past Merchi goalkeeper Joseph Rosano - on four minutes after Bain's well-weighted through ball. Moir ran clear of the Merchi backline in pursuing the pass and, with his first touch, toed the ball past the advancing Rosano with precise timing to guide it into the net.

Moir displayed as much expertise in the celebration that followed, imitating the trademark moves of Hearts' Rudi Skacel to punctuate his strike.

The goalscorer went close soon after with a 20-yard strike that rose inches above the crossbar, but his previous effort saw Easthouses go into the half-time break a goal to the good.

A similarly long-range strike shortly after the interval doubled the away team's lead, with Bain's piledriver from fully 30 yards too hot to handle for Rosano, who attempted to bat away the effort with a desperate right hand but succeeded only in pushing the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Merchi could not capitalise on the few openings they created; indeed, Easthouses should have stretched their advantage on 57 minutes when William Hutchison battled well to win possession on the left before knocking the ball forward to Dayle Orr, who struck the left-hand post from the edge of the box with Rosano at sea. Michael MacFarlane slalomed across the face of the Merchi penalty area but shot straight at Rosano as the game continued to slip from the grasp of the hosts.

North Merchiston coach Peter Bastiman was disappointed that his side hadn't been able to display the form that had taken them to the semi-final stage.

"Just before Christmas we beat a First Division side, AC Oxgangs, in another cup and beat top of the league Edina Hibs to get to this semi, but it went all Pete Tong today," he said."Easthouses are a good, physical side, a good team, but our lack of matches recently didn't help. We're in the middle of the league now with a few games in hand. Our hopes are to do as best we can and to bring the boys on. I've had these boys since they were six years old and they've come on fantastically."

Easthouses coach Kevin McCallion said of his team's performance: "I thought they played really well and played for each other. Our strength comes from our defence and it's tightening up every week."

Of his side's prospects in the final, McCallion was guarded. "You leave yourself with a red face if you say you're going to win things, so we'll continue to take each game as it comes," he said.

"The aim for the season is to try and push for promotion."

North Merchiston: Joseph Rosano, Craig Docherty, Cameron Moir, Grant Belcher, Gregor Roxburgh, Brody Bastiman, Ryan Kelly, Calum Brook, Sam Lesley, Adam Kelly, Liam Watson, Lewis Scott, Andrew Miller, Bailey Nisbet.

Easthouses: Chris Ramage, William Hutchison, Robbie Carter, Kristopher Snedden, Euan Greig, Kieran Hosie, Michael MacFarlane, Dayle Orr, Euan Russell, Connor McCallion, Ross Moir, Liam Thomson, Blair Innes, John Wyse, Callum Bain, Lee McOwen.