Local Heroes: Tynecastle do a rain dance

The bottom two teams in the East of Scotland under-21 pyramid, Tynecastle and Cavalry Park, braved horizontal rain at Saughton to complete their first 90 minutes since November, with hosts Tynie proving fresher than their Duddingston counterparts to earn a place in the second round of the Stuart Brown Memorial Trophy.

The maroons triumphed 5-0 against Cavalry's threadbare squad of 11 men, with the visitors' lack of substitutes contributing greatly to their collapse in the second half.

The two sides have earned just a point between them in the under-21 Division 2 league this season, with a single Tynie draw the sole source of solace amid a series of defeats.

Not that the uninformed onlooker would have guessed at such form during a compelling clash that involved two teams determined to play attractive football - in spite of the almost constant downpour and driving wind.

Sheltering from the elements but by no means seeking a hiding place from the barrage of shots that rained on his goal, Shetland youngster Iain Devonald, the Cavalry custodian playing just his second game for the club, was the contest's outstanding performer, saving numerous one-on-ones and showing competency in collecting crosses.

It was his single error, however, that gifted Tynecastle the lead after 37 minutes, when a cross from the right eluded the stretching arms of the No.1 and home defender Gavin McCarthy applied the touch to force the ball into the net.

In truth, the advantage was no more than Tynie deserved having rattled the Cavalry defence regularly in the opening exchanges, Steven Ferguson, Scott Houston and Gordon Haris (twice) all coming close. Devonald was responsible for one of Haris's missed opportunities by shooting out a strong hand to repel a shot that looked to be destined for the right-hand corner of the net.

Haris again forced a great save from his goalkeeping nemesis early in the second half, with Devonald diving at the feet of the striker bearing down on goal, but the loose ball broke kindly for Tynie captain Houston, who netted the rebound from ten yards out. A sprawling Devonald got his body behind yet another Haris effort on 57 minutes as the striker grew increasingly frustrated. At the other end, a minute later, Tynecastle goalie Daniel Findlay could only watch as Cavalry forward Stuart Stanley's effort struck the post.

On 65 minutes, Houston scored his second by sidestepping his marker and firing past Devonald after a corner. The Tynie No.?8 then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 75 minutes, but not before Devonald crowned his glittering performance with a stunning save to push Norman Dunnett's 20-yard free kick wide of his left-hand post.

Another Dunnett free kick led to Tynecastle capping their victory with a fifth goal with ten minutes remaining. Tynecastle's Roger Boyle reckoned his side put on a good show given the circumstances and added: "Cavalry stuck at it, kept fighting and played reasonably well."

Tynecastle: Daniel Findlay, Michael Slater, Lewis Knight, Gavin McCarthy, Gordon Haris, David Boyle, Scott Houston, Scott Wright, Norman Dunnett, James Conway, Steven Ferguson, Chris McLeod, Jamie Walsh, Martyn Mohammad.

Cavalry Park: Iain Devonald, Connor David McCall, Craig John Love, Sean Robert James Scott, Ryan Dalgleish, Haydn James Milne, Brent Falconer, Craig Leitch, Jamie Ogilvie, Stuart Stanley, Greg Playfair.