Polbeth beat Icapb and the elements

POLBETH UNITED moved up to third in the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA Edinburgh West division by beating Sporting Icapb 3-1.

United’s victory was also thanks in no small part to the players of Inverleith AFC, who had earlier cleared the Saughton 3G pitch of snow before their Scottish Amateur Cup defeat by Aberdeenshire team Luthermuir AFC. Polbeth, who are still 11 points off top spot, were dominant in the first half and opened the scoring after eight minutes, James Newlands directing his 20-yard shot across goal into the bottom right corner of the net.

Three minutes later, John Yeats’ shot was saved well by Icapb goalkeeper Kyle Tod and Newlands’ shot went wide of the right post.

Icapb had an opportunity to equalise after 18 minutes but Owen Black’s shot was diverted over the bar by Polbeth goalkeeper, John McKillop. From the corner, Matthew Lyst’s header was cleared off the line.

The scores were levelled on the 25th minute. A good passing move finished with Black’s pass across the box to Manuel Breuer, who scored easily from close range. Polbeth regained the lead less than a minute later when Ross Ellis was brought down in the box and Paul McArdle put the penalty into the bottom right corner of the net.

Newlands’ second gave Polbeth a two-goal cushion on the half hour. The in-form striker was put through one-on-one with the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.

Sporting Icapb dominated possession early in the second half, but it was Polbeth who had the next opportunity to score, with Callum McQueenie’s shot from inside the penalty area well saved by Tod.

With 15 minutes left, Rory MacDougall should have pulled one back for Icapb. He rounded McKillop but McArdle sprint to the line to block the shot.

Icapb player-boss Lyst said: “We were slow to get going in the first half, but we did better in the second. Polbeth won the game in the first half although we had a couple of chances in the second half.” Polbeth coach John Wilson was pleased with the effort of his players in difficult conditions. He said: “It was very cold and all the players did very well. We did well to come in ahead at the break, and the second half was basically even. Every player put in a lot of effort in the second half, especially in the conditions, and both teams should be congratulated.”

Sporting Icapb: Kyle Tod, Emeko Salvatierra, Martin Reijns, Jamie Tocher, Sander Granneman, Luke Lewis, Owen Black, Gerald Barry, Rory MacDougall, Jack Hearn, Edward Hulme, Matthew Lyst, Scott Gallagher, James Douglas, Manuel Breuer.

Polbeth Utd: John McKillop, Paul McArdle, Lewis Robinson, Jak Hamilton, Callum McQueenie, Callin Craig, Ian Paton, David Innes, James Newlands, John Yeats, Ross Ellis, Michael McDonald, Graham Forrest, James Godfrey, Ryan Foy.