Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Craigroyston

Saturday 11 January 2020, 15.15, Oriam 3G

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale v Craigroyston in the East of Scotland League Division One, Conference A.

The incessant rain in Scotland during the week meant pretty much everywhere in the East in the lower leagues with a grass pitch was postponed. ‘Storm Brendan’ appeared to be the culprit, or ‘the weather in Scotland’ as it used to be known.

With options extremely limited, we spotted that Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (LTHV) had moved their game from their usual home at Saughton Enclosure to the astroturf at Oriam. With a modicum of cover from the elements, we decided to go there rather than the more exposed Peffermill 3G. (Sorry Leith Athletic).

There were 64 of us who braved the elements.

The mass exodus from the Juniors to the East of Scotland League seems to have gone down well with most, but LTHV can be forgiven for being one dissenting voice. Previously one of the giants of the East of Scotland League, they were regular league winners and most seasons were fighting it out with Leith Athletic for silverware.

Having narrowly lost out to Kelty Hearts for the 2017-18 title, after their move a year earlier than the rest of the Juniors, Vale were placed in Conference B the following season. The Conference was won by Bonnyrigg Rose and LTHV could only finish in seventh, meaning they wouldn’t be in the top league this season.

With improvements made to their Saughton ground, Vale were probably looking to make the necessary changes to make the jump to the Lowland League themselves, and then the Juniors arrived.

This season is looking promising though, and they were in the midst of a three way battle for the top spot with Leith Athletic and Dunipace. A number of teams did have games in hand, most noticeably Kinnoull, who had played 4 less at the time of this match and were just 5 points behind Vale.

For Craigroyston, this would sadly be their last season. Having played in the East of Scotland League since their formation in 1976, they moved to the Juniors for season 2016-17.

After just two seasons in the East Juniors they moved back to the East of Scotland League. This was brought about by the mass migration of the Junior teams leaving to join the pyramid system in the East of Scotland. Placed in Conference C last year, they finished in tenth spot.

At the end of November, the committee reluctantly agreed to close the club down at the end of this season due to the running costs of the club. The falling income and rising costs were considered to not be sustainable to keep the club running.

There have been rumours that the club may yet be saved, but I’ve seen nothing official as yet.

These events have undoubtedly influenced Craigie’s season. After 19 games they had only managed to pick up two points.

When the teams met in November, LTHV ran out 5-2 winners at St Mark’s Park.

Although cold and damp, there was no sign of rain as the game kicked off.

With 3 minutes gone, Vale’s Cumming played a one-two with Viola before shooting just wide from the edge of the box.

Cumming was involved again in 8 minutes, when his shot was blocked in the box. Moore looked to latch on to the loose ball, but Smail was out quickly to smother the ball at his feet.

Viola was next to have a strike at the Craigie goal, but his shot from the edge of the box was too high.

Craigie’s Inglis picked up the game’s first booking in 13 minutes for his second late tackle of the day.

In 21 minutes, Cumming went down in the Craigie box under the challenge of Nicholson. Nothing was given by the referee and the two players had words.

I don’t know if Cumming has voodoo powers, but Nicholson had to go off a minute later after he seemed to twist his knee with no one near him.

Gray picked out South on the edge of the Vale box in 25 minutes and he turned well, but his shot was saved by Stewart.

Craigie’s Anderson was yellow carded in 26 minutes for a late tackle.

Smith was next to have a go at the Craigie goal, but his shot in 29 minutes was blocked by Smail’s legs.

With 31 minutes gone, Townsley crossed from the left and Wringe headed goalwards with his back to goal and it sailed into the Craigie net to give the ‘home’ side the lead.

Vale’s Moore went down as if he had been shot in 34 minutes when he was clearing the ball and there was slight contact from Inglis. The referee blew for a free kick, which it probably was, and told the prone Moore (who was down holding his ankle) that he wasn’t touched there and that he should get up. Moore immediately did so and ran off. Craigie’s players were not best pleased.

A late tackle on Viola produced Craigie’s third booking in 37 minutes. This time Andrew was the culprit.

Smith passed to the feet of Cumming in the Craigie box in 43 minutes and he showed good strength to hold off Andrew before dinking the ball over Smail for Vale’s second.

Viola had the ball in the net for Vale in first half injury time, but the referee had already blown for a free kick.

Two nil at the break and although it had taken Vale a while to break the deadlock, the killer second goal just before half time had put a truer reflection on the play.

With two minutes of the second half gone, Cumming met a corner and sent it goalwards, but Smail was there to save.

Craigie won a free kick for high feet just inside the ‘D’ at the edge of the box in 53 minutes. Mitchell stepped up to take it but got it all wrong as the ball went very high and very wide, clearing the tall fence behind the goal.

Some fine build up play by Vale in 59 minutes ended with Crawford pulling the ball back from the by-line on the right for Viola, who fired home emphatically off the underside of the bar to make it three.

Vale keeper Stewart passed to Crawford just outside his own box in 65 minutes and Inglis quickly nipped in to steal the ball for Craigie. He played the ball to South who laid the ball back to Inglis for a simple finish to get the visitors back into the game.

Cumming became the first Vale player to go into the book for a late tackle in 66 minutes.

A mistake at the back by Craigie in 68 minutes gave Vale a great chance, but Smith failed to pick out two unmarked team mates in the middle and the chance was gone.

Vale’s Moore and Craigie’s Hill looked to square up to each other in 69 minutes, but it didn’t come to anything.

Cumming had a chance in the box for Vale in 74 minutes, but Mitchell got across to block the ball behind.

More good football by Vale in 76 minutes created a chance for Cunningham on the edge of the box, but Smail made a good save.

In 79 minutes, Hendry played the ball down the left for Cumming. He got to the by-line before cutting back for Viola, who took a touch before making it four.

With a minute left, Doig picked up Craigie’s fourth booking for a foul on Hendry. Smith would have been clean through if advantage had been played.

A convincing win in the end for Vale, but Craigie made a bit more of a fight of it in the second half and it was commendable how they fought right to the end. If they had managed to get a second to make it 3-2, it might have turned out differently.

Smith, Cumming and Cunningham were the stand outs for Vale, while South impressed for Craigie. Credit too to the Craigie defence who defended stoutly under a lot of pressure.

Full Time: Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 4 Craigroyston 1

Admission: £6

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale: 13 Jack Stewart, 4 Paul Crawford, 5 Sean Lally, 12 Neil Smeaton, 2 Dylan Moore (Hendry 71), 8 Darren Smith, 10 Alex Cunningham, 14 Jak Townsley (Ronaldson 67), 20 Joe Viola, 7 Sean Cumming, 9 Sean Wringe (Dickson 78). Subs: 3 Leon Ronaldson, 16 Fletcher Hendry, 17 Stuart Fenwick, 19 Craig Dickson, 21 Fraser Ogilvie.

Craigroyston: 1 Reece Smail, 2 Bradley Anderson, 4 Zane Nicholson (Doig 23), 5 Liam Andrew, 3 Nathan Hill, 7 Michael Gray, 8 Christopher Jack (Irving 46), 6 Willie Mitchell, 10 Michael South, 11Chris Inglis, 9 Kris Mitchell (Watson 46). Subs: 12 Kyle Houldcroft Doig, 14 Joao Vieria, 15 Euan Watson, 16 Tom Irving.

Referee: Andrew Strang

Programme: None.