Harlaw Park, Scottish Youth Cup, 25/11/12
Entrance – Free
Attendance – 187
Pie – N/A
Pint – £3.60 Greene King Icebreaker, Social Club
Inverurie Loco Works Football Club
Founded – 1902
Nickname – The Railwaymen
Honours – Highland League Cup – 2007/08, 2008/09, Aberdeenshire Shield – 2003/04, 2013/14, 2016/17, Scottish Qualifying Cup(North) – 2004/05, 2005/06
Random Fact – The club was founded on 22nd August 1902, played their first game 4th October 1902 versus Huntly, yet their badge says 1903. Strange
After having one of those shitey forgettable days I decided to brave the cold for this to get me out of the house. Fitba on the doorstep will never be sniffed at no matter the level. I was also intrigued to see the difference in standards between the sides. Also after seeing St Mirren earlier in the season and being impressed by them, I was wondering how Hearts would compare.
The first thing I noticed was the state of the pitch. The boxes are in a terrible condition and the ball bobbled at times elsewhere on the pitch. But this didnt deter either team getting the ball down and trying to play good football. The second thing was, evem though this was an under 18 game, the Chuff Chuffs were present. Now thats dedication. Also to be noted there was a healthy crowd in for this. Not many chances were created early but both teams knocked it about well. The first real opportunity broke the the deadlock when a hesitant Locos keeper thought about coming too off his line far too late for a cross the in turn ended up taking the young Jambo down. There were no complaints but it was avoidable. The goalkeeper should have reacted to the danger quicker. The Hearts number 9 sent his assailant the wrong way from the spot. But this didn’t put the young Railwaymen down. They arguably became the better team as the half wore on. There were claims for a penalty for them when the big Hearts centre half “shoulder to shouldered” the Locos 9 and sent him flying, I think this was above and beyond shoulder to shoulder and if the striker went down it would have been given. Not long after, Locos had the ball in the net when the 9 sent a booming header past the Hearts keeper but it was flagged off. No comment from me if it was correct or not as I was at the other end of the park. Locos fashioned another few good chances but never tested the keeper. The home team were well in this game and were giving a good account of themselves. An impressive team on the counter attack. The half was finished off with a bit of hilarity when Hearts were pulled up for a foul throw. One that had more resemblance of a netball chest pass than a fitba throw in.
HT 0 v 1
Incredibly the first noteworthy action of the second half was another Hearts foul throw. One that seemed worse than the first. Surely at 18 years old you are better than that. (different player this time). Around ten minutes into the half the snow started falling gently. Winter is coming folk. Time to wrap up. This was the first game I have had a scarf at this season, and I can assure your our trip to Yoker Athletic on Friday night will be the first double socker of the year, oh how I could have done with that come full time. The first chance of the half was a header for the Locos 10 who just didn’t get his aim right an put it straight at the keeper. This was followed by substitute 17 managing to get it all wrong and fire clear over the net behind the goal and out of Harlaw Park over the social club which I can assure you is no easy thing to do. From the goal kick Hearts went up the park and doubled the lead in fortuitous circumstances. The cross was played in and Locos left back 3 did really well to cut it out but his feet got stuck in the heavy Harlaw pitch leaving him to fall to the deck, this leaving the Hearts 16 to get the ball beyond the prostrate defender and smash it into the top of the net. The 3 (who was a very decent and solid player for the record) was really unfortunate after a great interception. As time wore on Hearts started to find ways in behind the Locos defence as they started to tire. The best chance was when the Locos keeper fumbled a cross leading to a stramash in the box and three separate efforts being cleared off the line. Locos to their credit despite fading fitness wise did create a few chances but again did not test the Hearts keeper. The Jambo custodian was all in yellow and did not have a mark on him. He was finally dirtied in the eighty second minute when the Locos 8 unleashed a vicious volley from eighteen yards which sent the keeper diving across his goal to the right, only to see it fly just wide. And that was about that for the game and the final whistle blew not long after. Locos put in a great effort against a team that were clearly fitter(train much more), Hearts were no great shakes though. A couple of decent players but in my eyes St Mirren seemed a lot better as a team and had more stand out players(they play Aberdeen tomorrow night). After around twenty five years since last watching matches in this tournament I have seen two this season and I wouldn’t rule out watching more. Decent way to spend a night
As I walked out of Harlaw I noticed the next match sign had been changed from Hearts to Lossiemouth. I also noticed the date of the 11th of December. This break will be beneficial to the pitch as it is in a poor condition.
Me still 214
FITBAWBAG 