It's all too much for Tynie

Tynecastle were unable to surmount a second West Lothian obstacle in this year's Scottish Youth FA under-15 Challenge Cup as they fell to Livingston United Star in a thrilling tie that warranted extra time at Saughton.

After hurdling the challenge of regional top tier side Murieston United Reds in the first round of the national tourney, Tynie were unable to repeat the trick on home soil, losing 3-1 to a strong Livi side that contained some players almost double the size of those in maroon.

Star dominated the early stages, laying siege to home keeper John Clayton's goal, and a couple of early crosses from their right winger Graeme McPherson were headed narrowly over the crossbar by Arron Gunn and Lewis Mitchell.

Visiting attacker Conner Williamson found himself through on goal on the half hour but was denied by the brave reactions of Clayton, who dived at the striker's feet before the shot was unleashed.

Livi did take the lead, however, three minutes before half-time. Clayton survived another goalward shot, with a long lofted attempt crashing off his crossbar, but Livi captain Daniel Cairney rushed in to meet the rebound first and convert from close range. Cairney, who showed a great appetite for the game and displayed an exemplary attitude to match his stellar performance, sustained an injury as he dispatched the ball into the net. He later re-emerged into the fray midway through the second half.

Russell Little, whose name by no means matches his sizeable frame, bustled and harried the diminutive Tynecastle defence and eventually made a break beyond the home backline on 57 minutes. From an acute angle on the right of the six-yard box, though, his effort struck the near post and went out for a goalkick Clayton performed brilliantly a minute later to claw away a high, arching shot by Williamson that was bound for the top corner of the net, then the Tynecastle custodian continued his heroics to block two quickfire, close range efforts by Cairney on the hour mark.

On 65 minutes, Clayton again won a duel with Cairney by pulling off a point blank save from the striker's ten-yard strike. The goalkeeper as much as anyone was to thank for Tynie keeping pace with their visitors, and home striker Shaun Munro reaped the rewards of Clayton's defiance by scoring the goal that proved the leveller on 65 minutes, Munro's strike from the edge of the box looping over Star goalie Liam Hunt.

The ensuing period of extra time proved a step too far for the Capital club, however, and Livi assumed the ascendancy with a spirited performance coupled with two goals in the first half of additional play.

There was perhaps a hint of offside as Star's Williamson connected with a forward ball on the right-hand side of a sparsely populated penalty area, however the striker showed predatory instinct by firing the ball into the net, his strike squirming under Clayton.

Tynie No.?9 Munro cleared off his own goal line to prevent his side going further behind, but there was no stopping Star making it 3-1 a minute later.

The tenacity of Livi skipper Cairney saw him win one 50-50 challenge after another en route to goal via the left-hand side of the Tynie penalty area, and he jabbed a shot - using superb technique with the outside of his right boot - into the net.

Tynecastle 96: John Clayton, Benjamin Williams, Connor Macdonald, Jack Ormiston, Mark Hemmings, Mark McLean, Stuart Small, Peter Wood, Shaun Munro, Peter Gray, Joseph Muzyka, Dylan Thomson, Jack Fairbairn, Alexander Forsythe, Ronan Lapping, Jack Montgomery.

Livingston United Star: Liam Hunt, Russell Little, Karol Marciniak, Arron Gunn, Leon Bell, Graeme McPherson, Lewis Mitchell, Robbie Floyd, David Cowan, Craig MacDonald, Conner Williamson, Murray Geddes, Daniel Cairney, Kyle McFarlane, Liam McMillan, Lee Moffat.