By Stuart Crawford
The last time these sides met in Division 1 of the Youth Football Association south-east region, exactly a month earlier, it was one of the more bad-tempered contests at this level – so the hope was that the pattern would not be repeated.
Haddington travelled to Loanhead reasonably confident, but not complacent, after their victory last time. Just as well, for in the first 15 minutes or so the home side pinned them into their own half – but without seriously threatening the Haddington goal. The visitors were lacklustre and quiet, with Loanhead looking the sharper team.
Haddington battled back into the game, though, with their midfield slowly wakening-up and their pacy forward-line beginning to stretch the home defence. Inevitably it seemed, the breakthrough came when the big, strong Haddington striker turned his man inside the penalty box and hit a lovely curving shot into the Loanhead net with his less-favoured left foot.
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The second wasn’t long in coming. The Loanhead defence was having all sorts of trouble with the pace of Haddington’s striker, and once again he bamboozled the left back, brushed off a couple of challenges and slotted the ball past the Loanhead keeper. Haddington went in at half-time two goals up. The second half was a much less equal affair, with Loanhead up against it for most of the time. The visitors started to pass the ball much better and began to create many more chances – but, despite dominating the play, they couldn’t get the killer third goal. Haddington hit the bar twice in quick succession, but the ball would just not go in for them. Then came the best Loanhead move of the match. The ball was played out to their tall left-winger who was having a good game. Despite some close attention, he managed to get in a cross (I think it went through the defender’s legs) and the ball broke kindly to one of the Loanhead strikers. A goal seemed certain, but somehow the Haddington keeper got out and saved with his legs, then scrambled to pick up the loose ball. It was, I think, the only time the visitor’s goalie touched the ball in the second half. Haddington put the tie to bed with a wonderful individual goal when one of their players jinked and jouked through several Loanhead players before slamming the ball over the goalie’s head. That was effectively the game over, with no way back for the home side. Loanhead continue to prop up the bottom of the table, but their team has one or two neat players and this was a much more disciplined display. They badly need both a win to lift morale and a bit of luck in front of goal. Haddington continue to be strong all over the field once they settle and concentrate on the game in hand.Donate to us: support independent, intelligent, in-depth Scottish journalism from just 3p a day
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