Belhaven 1st XI 1-5 Merchiston.

Five long years have passed since Belhaven last competed in a 1st XI football match but the boys retain a keen interest in and aptitude for the beautiful game. Merchiston came along the A1 fresh from an unbeaten start to the season and the lads knew they would have to be at the peak of their performance today.

In the first eight minutes Belhaven shot out of the traps and created chances close-in for Will Jack and Caspar Rogers, Rogers then just missing another opportunity by inches, as the ball slid past in front of him and out to Merchiston safety. Merchy were keen to show their own skills and proved to be a good passing side, with one boy in particular standing out as being head and shoulders above the rest. Belhaven would need to keep him quiet if they were to maintain parity today.

On ten minutes the visitors almost snatched the lead as a Merchiston attack high up the field was not cut out on the wing, resulting in a close-range shot crashing back off the right upright of Dougal Forsyth’s goal. Forsyth went on the produce four or five stunning saves from various players as Belhaven struggled to press high enough up the pitch, which left the Blues’ defence under intense pressure. A good couple of moves involving Geordie Gladwin and Tom Galbraith created openings for Belhaven players but nothing clear-cut as the match headed towards half-time very even.

One minute before the break, however, Merchiston benefitted from a stroke of luck as the ball took a couple of deflections and landed at the feet of a Merchy player who finally beat Forsyth from three yards. This was hard luck on the boys and ill-deserved, as the first half had been very even; however in football you need to take your chances when they come and we were left rueing our early profligacy in front of goal.

Wholesale changes were made at half-time with the boys having stinging reminders in their ears about defenders pushing up as a unit and not playing Merchiston forwards on-side, and passing the ball out better. The tight game continued till 36 minutes when a Belhaven positional error was punished ruthlessly with a finish which just squeezed past Forsyth. Gladwin was playing an excellent game, kicking beautifully, getting his head to every corner and marking the Merchiston danger-man whenever the Belhaven goal appeared under threat. Four minutes later, however, and the score went to 3-0 in Merchiston’s favour with an excellent finish which snuck in the corner of the net to leave the onion bag bulging.

Belhaven’s defence was beginning to flag as Merchiston benefitted from playing a good, high-tempo passing game through the middle of the park, high up into Belhaven territory. The away team’s strong players were composed on the ball and used the width of the pitch to good effect to try to get around the Blues’ defenders and only last-gasp interceptions and more fine saves from the man in the Belhaven sticks held Merchy at bay. Belhaven certainly had had their share of the game, though, and more excellent work from Galbraith, Gladwin and Cuthbert set Stodart up, who shot purposefully at goal and squeezed his efforts through the visiting keeper’s legs. 3-1 and game on! The goal was the least that the lads’ efforts and skill merited and the boys trotted back to the halfway line buoyed with optimism.

You are never as vulnerable as when you have just scored, and Belhaven, unfortunately, proved this, as deep defending right at the death put our goal under pressure of our making, which yielded two goals in the last two minutes of the game, the first of which came straight from the Merchiston kick-off after Belhaven’s goal. The game ended 5-1 in favour of the visitors and though Merchiston were well worthy winners, the score flattered a little, leaving us to but wonder what might have been, had those three early chances gone in.

That said, two minutes from time Belhaven were just two goals down to an accomplished and experienced side, which is a fantastic reflection of the progress of the Belhaven boys who have had just six training sessions before to-day’s game. The guts and determination shown by all of the boys involved, together with continuously developing skills bodes well for future years’ matches both for this group of lads and also the school. With more positional training and passing practice we will continue to progress well.

Well done boys, I’m proud of every one of you.

Man of the Match – Dougal Forsyth.

Squad: Dougal Forsyth, Peter Dalrymple, Edward Wauton, Alasdair Johnston, Douglas Donaldson, Geordie Gladwin, Tom Stodart, Tom Galbraith, Freddie Rogers, Will Jack (c), Caspar Rogers, Archie Rettie, George Cuthbert, Leo Seymour, Jamie MacDonald, Rory Barnes, Henry Roberts.