Merchi put stamp on fans' Cup

A THRILLING late comeback from lower league AC Oxgangs was sufficient to alarm North Merchiston at Meggetland, but not to deny the top-tier side a place in the semi-final of the South East Region under-15 Federation of Hearts Supporters' Clubs Cup.

Merchi, flying high in the Lothian Buses under-15 Division 1 table, ran out comfortable winners in a ten-goal contest on the artificial surface, and not even a late treble from the resilient visitors could dent their hopes of attaining one of the most prestigious pieces of silverware at this level.

Merchi made relatively light work of Division 2 side Oxgangs, scoring two in a straightforward first half before adding five more in the second to seal a place in the last four of a competition whose showpiece final is staged at Tynecastle Stadium.

Hamish Law was the hat-trick hero and got off the mark in style, playing a mesmerising one-two with Callum Baptie before finishing past AC goalkeeper Neil Middleton. The keeper was unfortunate to be beaten by Law's second, a cross-shot, however, the goalkeeper saved a penalty before the break to keep his side in it.

Merchi stepped up a gear in the second half, though, and soon added to their advantage when the lively Nathan Evans rounded Middleton before netting.

Baptie's imperious header from Jake MacDonald's left-wing corner made it four on 47 minutes, then Joe Turner Law rolled a placed shot from 15 yards past Middleton into the right-hand corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Hamish Law completed his treble on 68 minutes, lacing a shot from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner in spectacular style, before Evans grabbed his second with a superbly-executed header from Calum Windram's free kick on the right.

With nothing to lose, AC then staged the most unlikely but spirited scoring spree to bring their more illustrious opponents back down to earth.

With three minutes remaining, Callum MacKenzie's strike from the right-hand side of the penalty area shot across Merchi's previously untroubled goalkeeper Darren Mitchell and into the far corner.

Moments later, Oxgangs No.?3 James McInally swept past his marker, Merchi's Greig Brown, on the right of the box and planted a cool finish beyond Mitchell low to the left of the goal.

Then, the two AC goalscorers combined to reduce the deficit still further, MacKenzie's strike from the edge of the box being palmed away by Mitchell, only for McInally to sweep the rebound into the unguarded net.

Merchiston coach Donald MacDonald said: "We were very pleased at 7-0 up that the boys had done well, but we were wanting a clean sheet.

"I thought Oxgangs started too cautiously by going defensive with one up front."They got three in the last few minutes with three up front and if they'd done that in the rest of the game, we'd have had a harder time.

"We took our foot off the gas at 7-0 up, but, credit to them, they came at us."

Merchi are in the thick of a close-run chase for the Division 1 league title and have Hutchison Vale, Tynecastle, and Edina Hibs for company in the top four. Those three rivals still remain in the Federation of Hearts Supporters' Clubs Cup, as do fellow top flight adversaries Spartans, Inch Colts 'A' and Salvesen 96. Division 3 surprise package Inch Colts are outsiders to cause a cup upset.

North Merchiston: Darren Mitchell, Christopher Suttie, Peter Elliott, Nicholas Mortimer, Calum Windram, Anton Dowds, Calum Young, Joe Turner Law, Callum Baptie, Jake MacDonald, Adam Hastings, Lewis Hewitt, Nathan Evans, Greig Brown, Ben Brigain, Hamish Law.

AC Oxgangs: Neil Middleton, James Kidd, James McInally, Liam Darling, Kai McQueen, Steven Millar, Guy Wardrop, Peter Chambers, Murray Orris, Matthew Gray, Joe Posnett, Michael Addison, James Williamson, Fraser Hill, Callum MacKenzie.