17/05/08 K.O. 2pm 1/4 Final Cup
After playing so well on Thursday night against Bathgate it was always going to be hard to lift the players so soon afterwards and based on the first half this proved true as Musselburgh struggled on a poor slippery surface to play their normal passing game. Injuries again playing their part with Danny Sweeney, and Matti King only on the bench.
The match started poorly with the pitch playing its part, over hit passes and poor crosses from both teams, Edinburgh then resorting to long balls which the Burgh defense easily copped with. The only real moment of class came 20 minutes in. Andy Porteous crossing and Chris King heading straight at the keeper. Turnbull then set up Tansey who shot flew wide. At the other end Ewan McIntosh almost gave the hosts the lead shoting just wide with the goal at his mercy. Then just before half time a harmless ball was latched onto by McIntosh who rounded the keeper to put Edinburgh up at half time.
The second half started with Matti King coming off the bench and the former Hearts player made a impact straight away, the move of the game involving Paul Currie who passed wide to David Turnbull, his excellent cross gave King the simplest of headers to draw the teams level. Almost straight from the kick off Musselburgh took the lead in a lightening spell of football. Paul Tansey ending the move with a great drive into the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season. It could have been worse for Edinburgh with Musselburgh running riot another Tansey shot cannoning of the base of the post and Turnbull again testing the keeper. Musselburgh made it 3 goals in 5 minutes when Matti King grabbed his 6th goal in 5 games his shot hitting the keeper on its way in. Musselburgh had done their job and did play nice passing play for the main part of the second half but the game was well over. A great move involving Devlin, Currie, King and Turnbull ended with a good save by the keeper. The match then dropped into the same pattern as the first half but Musselburgh wont be too bothered as they reached their second semi final in 3 days.
In many ways this was a tougher game than Bathgate on Thursday as in the past Musselburgh have struggled to raise their game for the 'easier' game especially after a big result, but once again this team have shown that they can battle out a result which will give them another 2 big games to look forward to. Also a note to the management team who clearly lifted the players at half time, maybe reminding them they could be the most successful Musselburgh team of all time if they can win these 2 cup competitions. There was continued good news on the dissapline front as yet again only one booking for Musselburgh, their improvement in this area has co-insided with a great run of results, David McGlynns team are now unbeaten in 5 games and since the start of March only 2 defeats in 14 games. That win today was their 11th away from home this season. Some excellent results as Musselburgh continue to push for cup success. For the fans as well some fantastic football on show they have now seen 99 Musselburgh goals this season!
Referee Mr Micheal Taylor
Musselburgh: McPherson, Murphy, McManus, Mitchell, Bain, Devlin, Porteous, Currie, Turnbull, C King, Tansey Subs: CJ, M King, Sweeney, Polowj
Mitchell
Match report by Ryan Kelly
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