Hutchie Vale Colts chop down Windsor at Forrester

The Hutchie team displayed quality all across the Forrester High School pitch as six different players got their name on the scoresheet in a comprehensive victory. Matthew Edgar and Ben Philp each scored two goals in an 8-1 win for Hutchie on a day when the three other league fixtures were all postponed.

Musselburgh Windsor coach Alan Calder bemoaned the recent loss of players from his squad, which contributed to the heavy defeat.

He said: “That was our worst performance of the season. It was a struggle for us. We’ve lost a few players and we’re down to the bare bones at the moment.”

Hutchison Vale Colts showed their intent from the first whistle, and their first scoring chance came after three minutes when David Anderson’s chipped shot bounced narrowly wide of the right post.

The home team penned the Musselburgh side into their own half for most of the first half, and they made the breakthrough after 25 minutes. Edgar’s long range free-kick flew into the roof of the goal.

Despite conceding eight goals throughout the match, Windsor Colts goalkeeper Finlay Watson made a number of good saves. In the 31st minute, he deflected Anderson’s shot wide with a diving save.

Hutchie doubled the lead with three minutes left in the first half when Nathan McCulloch chipped the ball over Watson into the net.

Windsor goalie Watson did well to keep the score down and he pulled off a fantastic double save with 38 minutes played, keeping Anderson’s name off the scoresheet after the Hutchie player bored down on goal.

But the Vale juggernaut continued three minutes later as Edgar grabbed his second goal, burying the ball into the bottom right corner from the left side of the penalty area.

For a few moments, Musselburgh had hopes for a comeback as they grabbed a goal in the 46th minute to make it 3-1. Craig Calder shot into the bottom right corner from close range after Ben McEwen’s low cross.

Hutchison Vale got back into their attacking flow immediately and Philp shot powerfully into the goal from the edge of the penalty area. Anderson finally scored his goal four minutes later, with a shot into the centre of the net after Che Cousland’s pass.

Sam Weir shot into the bottom right corner of the net with Anderson supplying the assist after 55 minutes. Cousland grabbed a goal four minutes later, with a header into the right side of the net.

Windsor nearly scored a consolation goal with five minutes left to play, but Calder shot wide of the right post after Stuart Robertson’s well placed through ball.

Striker Philp rubbed salt into Windsor’s wound in the final minute when his shot nestled into the left corner of the net.

Windsor Colts coach Calder felt that the team did not play anywhere near their standard but is worried about the lack of numbers in the squad. He said: “It’s been a mixed season for us. We have beaten some very good teams. Tynecastle are one of the best teams in the league and we beat them away from home earlier in the season, but we have also lost to teams that we would not expect to lose to.

“No team has beaten us by more than three or four goals this season so this was a bit of a shock. We are really struggling for players, and I think a lot of the teams in the league are also struggling for players. For us, it is a case of whether or not we can make it to the end of the season and it looks as though the two Musselburgh Windsor teams will have to be merged.”

Hutchison Vale Colts coach Stevie Philp wants the team to be Division 2 champions at the end of the season. He said: “The boys played well. It was really pleasing that we played good football with lots of passing and good movement. We did not really look threatened at the back and we took our chances.

“We’re in the semi-final of the League Cup and we’re setting our sights on winning that cup. We’re halfway up the league and our goal is to win the league. As long as the boys continue playing good football I will be happy.”

Hutchison Vale Colts: Ben Corrall, Matthew Edgar, Jack Markham, Jack Murray, Struan Robb, David Anderson, Ewan Curle, Che Cousland, Sam Weir, Ben Philp, Lewis Adjodani, Nathan McCulloch, Darren Cassidy.

Musselburgh Windsor Colts: Finlay Watson, James Brownlee, Greg Ferguson, Liam Carlyle, Ben McEwen, Cameron Burt, Craig Calder, Jason Grossart, Tom Foley, Stuart Robertson, Josh Harvey, Shaun Harrold.