Vale prevail as worthy winners to pull away from Edinburgh City

In the weekend's only youth football fixture, Hutchison Vale and Edinburgh City's top-of-the-table Lothian Buses South East Region under-13 Division 1 clash served up plenty goals and no little skill.

Hutchie ran out worthy winners at a snow-swept Meggetland thanks largely to the goalscoring exploits of Regan Hendry, but not before visitors City had stormed into the lead through impressive attacker Fraser Wright.

Inside two minutes, Wright had already come close with an effort on goal, and atoned for that miss with a sweeping opener. Cutting in from the wing, the bustling striker toed the ball to the right of Hutchie goalkeeper Cameron Bendall with unerring composure.

Wright's opposite number, the Vale centre forward David Lindsay, equalised just five minutes later, and Hendry put the hosts ahead with a blinding 25-yard strike that flew past Euan McGurk via the crossbar.

Hutchie's roving midfielder Sean McKirdy executed a spectacular strike of his own, before Ethan Feachan and strike partner Lindsay added strikes either side of captain Cameron Begbie's headed goal.

City doggedly persisted with a neat passing game and showed glimpses of the type of football that has seen them escalate to third in the table this season. However, Hutchie remained too strong for their opponents after the break and added to their tally, with Sam Birch's half-volley shortly after the restart a fine culmination of some great wing play by McKirdy.

Hendry completed his hat-trick within the following ten minutes, then set up Lindsay for an opportunistic goal from close range. A late Hendry strike into the top corner - the pick of the bunch - rounded off the scoring and sealed a three point haul that cements Hutchie's position in first place, three points ahead of nearest challengers Cavalry Park.

Like their rivals in pole position, second-from-top Cavalry have enjoyed a 100 per cent winning start to the campaign but possess a game in hand over Hutchie.

In the only scheduled Division 1 fixture this coming weekend, Vale will hope to further consolidate their lead at the summit with victory over third-bottom Salvesen.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh City are due to contest a Ken Ritchie Cup tie this Sunday against Division 4 high flyers Liberton United.

Hutchison Vale: Cameron Bendall, Cameron Milne, James Ahari, Sam Birch, Cameron Begbie, Brandon Archibald, Murray Sutherland, David Lindsay, Ethan Feachan, Regan Hendry, Sean McKirdy, Scott Christie, Gary Howie, Alexander Simpson, Lewis Swaney, Ryan Fox.

Edinburgh City: Euan McGurk, Calum Miller, Michael Allan, Fraser Wright, Rowan Fife, Niall Kane, Blair Donald, Jake Henderson, Ricky Kerr, Mark Warnock, Charlie Stewart, Jarek Wdowiak, Euan Smith, Joe Donald, Michael Gorol.