Hearts 6 v 3 Airdrie

This seemed to sting the home side into action who equalised shortly afterwards when one of their (many) speedy forwards ran onto a through ball before rounding the stranded Bryce and slotting the ball in, with the referee ignoring the strong Airdrie protests for offside.

Hearts were to score another 3 goals before half time, practically in identical fashion, as their speedy forwards caused the visiting defence all manner of problems. On more than one occasion they looked well offside, although the visitors did themselves no favours with some shoddy defending.

Despite a cricket score looking on the cards, Airdrie had 3 excellent chances which could have seen them go in level at the break. A Neil Love header hit the bar, while a vicious shot from Shanks produced an excellent stop from the keeper. The pick of the efforts though was an overhead kick from Mackie which was only prevented from going in by the keeper’s fingertips. It was an excellent effort from the granddad of the team though, and one which would have been impossible to pull off last season with his speedo swimming shorts on.

Despite the chances we were creating though, Hearts were by far the superior team, and increased their lead by a further 2 goals within 20 minutes of the restart. Airdrie’s heads were now down, and a scoreline heading into double figures looked on the cards, but a goal was pulled back when Alan Dyet slotted home a near post header from a Fisher corner. The ball took a slight deflection off of a home defender, which technically makes it an own goal, but try telling that to the short tempered baldy one.

This lifted Airdrie, and the deficit was further reduced when Airdrie scored arguably the goal of the game when some fine passing between Allsop, Fisher, Mackie and Salmond presented Big Tam with a chance from 10 yards which he duly converted for his fifth goal in 3 games.

That was to be the end of the scoring, and in the end the scoreline was actually quite favourable considering how up for it the home team were, and how ‘I can’t really be arsed’ the ‘Swally were. Hearts have really come on leaps and bounds since last season though, and with a strong pool look to be favourites for the League this season.

Notable mentions go to Jim Mackie for an inspirational performance - his best in the 3 years the team has been going; Shanksy for his wonder goal; Wyatt and Fisher for running their socks off, despite the latter spending the entire Friday night getting sozzled in some seedy Edinburgh strip club........and lastly no thanks to those who pulled out at the last minute leaving the team depleted; and Shanksy for yet another disappearing act when it was time to pay. Tight arse.

Team : Bryce; Allsop; Marshall; Morrison; A.Dyet; A.Love; Wyatt; Shanks; Mackie; N.Love; Fisher. Subs :- McMillan; Salmond.

Next Game :- Home to Queen of the South

October 5th Rawyards.