Local Heroes: Classy Tynecastle provide a goal feast but United show potential

United had scored and were, with half an hour played, still in the match - at least in terms of the scoreline if not the balance of play - but Tynie rip-roared through the second half to record a 9-1 victory and book their place in the semi final of the competition.

Home captain Callum Sutherland led the goalfest with a fourth-minute strike, diverting a long-range pass from six yards out by sticking his foot out to send the ball onto the underside of the bar and over the line.

On 16 minutes, a dominant Tynie made it two, as right winger Mark Shiells drove a powerful shot at goal that was simply too venomous for United goalkeeper Nicol Brydon to handle. The No.?1 got a seemingly firm hand to the ball, which then continued its flight into the left-hand corner of the net. Five minutes later, however, United pulled a goal back in some style. Finlay Glidden - son of coach Andy and grandson of Hearts' Scottish Cup-winning captain Freddie - served up a moment of class with a strike from out on the right touchline that sailed over Tynecastle keeper Sean Brennan. It was to be one of the few times the widely-admired Brennan was to be troubled as Tynie proceeded to extend their lead to 4-1 before half-time.

The best-worked goal of the contest arrived on 25 minutes after more impressive trickery by Shiells on the right. The No.?7 knocked the ball back to team-mate Connachan on the right-hand edge of the box and he swung a looping cross to the far post, where Kyle Mitchell headed the ball back across goal for Greg Binnie to convert at the right-hand post.

A couple of minutes prior to the interval, Mitchell, the bustling Tynecastle No.?9, got in on the scoring action himself. Connachan dribbled across the United 18-yard line as he awaited an opening, then laid the ball off for the dynamic Mitchell, who showed quick feet to beat man after man en route to the six-yard box from where he unleashed a close-range shot that bulged the top right-hand corner of the net.

After the break, Greg Kerr sent a teasing ball in from the left for Connachan, who had raced ahead of United defender Ruari MacPherson and goalkeeper Brydon, to score with ease.Brydon denied Connachan a minute later with the latest in a string of point-blank saves, the United custodian certainly not allowing the scoreline to affect his sterling performance.

Connachan then took advantage of some slack defending to double his tally, and soon after completed his hat trick in glorious style by powering a rasping 25-yard drive into net via the left-hand post. Mitchell's composed finish on 53 minutes made it eight, and Greg Kerr concluded Tynie's goal count with a close-range finish after Brydon had parried a shot by Shiells.

Tynecastle coach Simon Kinghorn chose to praise both sides after the match. "I'm pleased for Tyler (Connachan] who got his hat-trick, and some of our simplest goals were the best," he said. "United have some nice, neat footballers with a bit of pace. If they could utilise that more effectively, they could do better. They're certainly not out of their depth and shouldn't be downhearted."

Elsewhere in the all-Division 1 Bill Sheridan Cup, league strugglers Edina Hibs shocked high-flyers Hillfield Swifts, winning 5-1 at Inverkeithing. League leaders Hutchison Vale won 4-0 over Leith Athletic, Oxgangs won 2-1 at fellow mid-table side Salvesen, and Loanhead Miners Welfare triumphed 1-0 at Preston Athletic.

Tynecastle: Sean Brennan, Angus Luff, Max Michie, David Wright, Craig Russell, Callum Sutherland, Mark Shiells, Greg Binnie, Kyle Mitchell, Tyler Connachan, Lewis Murray, Jaimie Purves, Robbie Ewing, Jason Kerr, Euan Small, Greg Kerr.

Edinburgh United: Nicol Brydon, Charlie Cameron, Euan Everett, Michael Lafferty, Finlay Glidden, Mario Falsone, Rory Barraclough, Nick Faulkner, Matthew Galloway, Paul Macari, Ruari MacPherson, Alan Petticrew, Crawford Smith, Ben Smyth, Andrew Henry.