LHCFC

Home - Match Reports - 2003/04

Tues 25th May - U 15s: LHCFC 15s completed their league season with a comprehensive win over Muireston Blues. This was the result we all wanted as our last two games against them ended in draws. Hearts started very well and Keith Potter soon put us 1-0 up. We continued to take the game to the Blues and it wasn’t long before Steven Folek scored to make it 2-0. Nicky Pelc was playing well on the left and it was his play that caused the Blues to concede an own goal to give us a 3-0 half-time lead.
The second half saw us continue where we left off, creating a lot of chances and it was big Steven that put us 4-0 up soon after the break. Steven Daly pulled of a great save to deny the Blues and you could see it wasn’t going to be their day. Everyone wanted to be on the ball and the pressure soon told as Tigger was next on the goal scoring list as he put us 5-0 up. Nicky soon got his reward when he scored our 6th. The Blues did manage to get a consolation goal to make the final score 6-1.
Credit must be given to the whole team from the goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards to the substitutes that came on, as they all played their part in providing the parents and supporters the perfect finish to our league campaign.
Thurs 20th May - U 15s: LHCFC 15s put their recent cup disappointments behind them when they defeated Muireston Reds 3-2 in the league. This result was coming all season as the last two league encounters saw us play the better football yet we only managed to draw one and lose one.
The game started well, and you could see the lads were up for it as big Scott Charleston slammed the ball high into the net after he made a solo run from the half-way line. Hearts were playing the better football as Muirie continued to play the long ball hoping to get in behind us, but the defense were playing well. Muirie did manage to level the scoring from a corner, and this seamed to spur them on for a short while as they had a couple of shots on goal which Steven Daly dealt with ease until they scored a great goal which Steven had no chance of saving.
Hearts soon got to grips with the midfield again as they continued to press for the equalizer, and boy was it worth waiting for as Steven Folek scored from a tight angle high into the net. This time we weren't letting them off the hook as we created a few more chances before big Steven Folek made no mistake and sealed the victory with a glorious strike. It was nice to see the lads getting a result against the Reds as it was long overdue. "WELL DONE LADS"
Sun 9th May - U 15s: LHCFC 15s defeated Whitburn 5-2 in the semi-final of the County Cup. This was a nervy performance by the team because we lost our previous semi to Polbeth. The first half saw us create numerous chances before Scott Charleston scored to give us a 1-0 half-time lead.
After the break, Whitburn started to create chances of their own and deservedly got back on level terms with a lovely strike from a free kick. Hearts were stunned when the visitors scored again shortly after that to make the score 1-2. This was the wake up call we needed as Steven Folek levelled the score two minutes later. Scott then scored his second to send us back into the lead. Steven then scored his second to make the score 4-2. Scott was soon on the score sheet again as he made no mistake from the penalty spot after Izzy was brought down in the box. This was not one of our better displays as we made things hard for ourselves at times. Hopefully our passing will improve for the Regional Cup semi-final against Sygenta on Tuesday. Meet at J.Y.H.S. at 5-30pm for a 6-45pm kick-off.
Wed 5th May - U 15s: LHCFC 15s produced a five-star performance when they defeated Bonnybridge FC 5-0 away from home in the quarter-final of the Regional Cup. This was the best performance of the season by the team. Hearts got off to the perfect start when they went 1-0 up after two minutes when Scott Charleston fired home after a defensive mix up. This seemed to settle our lads as they started to play some lovely football in what could only be described as monsoon conditions. Tigger was doing what he does best: tormenting the opposition defence every time he got the ball. He went close on a couple of occasions but couldn’t increase our lead before half time.
After the break it was our turn to play down the slope and it was big Scott who put us 2-0 up. Then he smashed home a penalty after the home side hauled him down when he was clear in front of goal. By this time we were dominant in all areas of the park with Steven Folek playing his best game since joining the club. He managed to get on the score sheet when he went on one of his trademark runs and placed a LEFT foot shot under the keeper and into the corner. Tigger put the icing on the cake when he latched onto a high bouncing ball in a 50-50 challenge with the keeper and nodded it into the net to put us 5-0 up.
This was a great team performance with every player playing their part from the keeper to the forwards. Also a big thanks to all the parents who turned up to watch the game and got drenched in the rain. ‘WHAT RAIN????’; I never noticed any rain.
Wed 28th April - U 15s: LHCFC 15s produced a great performance when they drew 1-1 at home with Muri Red in the league. After only ten minutes on the clock they were reduced to ten men when Scott was shown the Red Card for elbowing an opponent. This was a big blow, as we really wanted to beat Muri Red because so often we have played the better football but never managed to beat them. Things were to get worse when Muri took the lead by taking full advantage of a strong wind at their backs. We found it quite hard to settle with the ten men but we scrapped for everything and managed to go in just 1-0 down at half-time.
After the break we thought we would have the wind at our backs, but typically with our luck, the wind had dropped. We did manage to get to grips with the game in the second half and played some nice football, creating a few chances. Their keeper managed to deal with them until Chris Cockburn got us back on level terms. We had another couple of opportunities to clinch the match after the equalizer but it finished 1-1.
This performance sums up the character and fighting spirit this team has adopted: they will never give up. Credit must go to every player in the team for the commitment shown in this match.
Sun 25th April - U 15s: LHCFC 15s had a hard fought win over Broxburn to reach the semi-final of the Bob Malcolm Cup.
Hearts started in fine style and found themselves ahead after five minutes. The goal came from Kevin Ismail when he cracked one in from the edge of the box, after some lovely passing football. We were in control of the game and should have added to our lead, but didn’t get the breaks we needed and went in l-0 at half-time. After the break we took off Neil Croal and Sean Menzies (great to see you back Sean) and put on Nicky Pelc and Michael Doonan. That seamed to spur Broxburn on as they put us under a lot of pressure and got themselves level after just ten minutes of the second half.
Broxburn continued to press us through the middle but found Mo and Lee in great form, and with Steven Daly playing at the top of his form in goal they couldn’t make their pressure count. Hearts did come close a couple of times; hitting the bar and the post. Hearts eventually got a grip of the game again and Tigger was soon celebrating his winning goal after Nicky Pelc head-flicked a cross into his path and he made no mistake as he smashed it high into the net. Broxburn threw everybody forward to try and get the equalizer, but even with the ref adding six minutes of extra time they failed to get level.
Final score: Hearts 2 Broxburn 1.
Wed 21st April - U 15s: LHCFC lost 1-0 away to league leaders Polbeth. Both teams found the conditions difficult with the wind. The game had only started when the home side took the lead. With the wind at our backs we thought we would get back on level terms but we found it difficult to get any fluent passing going. Both teams had chances but couldn’t find the net before half-time.
After the break we thought we would be under pressure from Polbeth but it proved to be the opposite as Hearts took the ascendancy and went looking for the equalizer. It was Polbeth who lost their way in the second half as we started to find our rhythm and created a lot of chances but failed to take any of them. We felt hard done by after not taking anything from this match after our second half performance.
Tues 20th April - U 13s: LHCFC 13s returned from their Spain trip to record a fantastic 5-1 win over Broxburn Colts. The first half saw us play our best football all season. Hearts put the visitors under constant pressure and it paid off when Paul Deery got his just reward and put us 1-0 up. This was to be the start of our goal feast as Paul knocked in another three and Liam Pace added another to make the half-time score 5-0.
The second half saw us once again take control of the game and caused havoc among the Broxburn defence, twice hitting the bar and twice hitting the post. Man of the Match Saqib Iqbal was superb in defence and never put a foot wrong all night. Broxburn did manage to grab a consolation goal just before full-time to make the final score 5-1. Credit to all the players as everyone played their part in what a great advert for youth football.
Sun 18th April - U 15s: LHCFC 15s returned to the domestic scene in fine style when they defeated Linlithgow 6-3 in the quarter final of the County Cup.
This was a superb all round performance by the team because Linlithgow had just returned from their Easter tournament at Blackpool and they really fancied their chances against us. We asked the lads to play with the same commitment as they did in Spain, and credit to them all, they delivered the goods 'big style'.
The game had barely started when Tigger put us 1-0 up. Steven Daly denied the home side on a couple of occasions with two great saves on one-on-one situations.
Nicky Pelc then placed a superb shot threw a crowded box to make it 2-0 and before Linlithgow could settle, Tigger ran onto a great pass from Nicky and as cool as you like, lobbed the keeper. Linlithgow were then awarded a penalty and pulled one back. Scott Charleston then popped up to head home from close range to make it 4-1, then as we were expecting the half time whistle to go, the ref awarded them another penalty (which they converted to make it 4-2) for a supposed hand ball which took place outside the box.
After the break we started where we left off creating lots of chances and put Linlithgow under constant pressure. Neil Croal received a starting position because of his overall performances in Spain, and he did not let us down at left mid. He was replaced by Keith Potter, and Scott was replaced by Martin Foy.
Our three goal lead was soon restored, when Nicky Pelc scored his second to make it 5-2. Tigger then scored his third when he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box. Linlithgow never looked like scoring against us with Lee and Mo looking solid in the centre of defence. But they did; the ref in his wisdom, decided to award Linlithgow their third penalty when Mo made a very good challenge inside the box. Linlithgow converted it to make the final score 6-3.
Although I only mentioned some of the players, this was an excellent team performance and everyone played their part in this game. - Mick Gillespie.
April - U 15s: LHCFC Under 15s returned from Spain after having given a very good account of themselves in the Copa Santa Cup, and were unlucky not to have reached the quarter-final. We got off to a bad start when we lost our first game 2-0 against a local Spanish side. The score line did not reflect the game as Hearts dominated the play and had nine shots on goal but failed to hit the back of the net.
Our second game saw us get a deserved win against Italian opposition. We took control of the game from the off, and came close a couple of times before Chris Cockburn slotted home from close range to give us a 1-0 first half lead. After the break the Italian side came more into it and grabbed an equalizer. This seemed to spurn Hearts back into it, and after putting them under severe pressure they conceded a penalty kick with 2 minutes to go, and Scott Charleston made no mistake as he smashed it home to give us a deserved victory.
The third game saw us take on the supposed favourites of the group as they had won their previous two matches with ease. Their large home support thought it would be a stroll in the park; were they in for a shock as we were in their faces from the off and never let them settle. They started getting a little bit physical because we matched them in every department and out-played them with some lovely football. We eventually got our reward when Scott Charleston scored to give us a 1-0 lead. We could not believe our eyes when the ref pointed to the spot after one of the Spanish players threw himself on the deck, even the large home support had a good laugh at the ref, but that didn’t help our cause as the game ended 1-1.
This trip was regarded as a huge success both in the standard of football that was played and the team bonding which was superb with all the players and parents getting to know each other and having a good laugh over the 5 days.
A massive thanks to everyone who went on the trip: their behaviour was terrific and they were a credit to the Club. - Mick Gillespie.
Sun 28th March - U 15s: LHCFC 15s had a hard fought away win over Linlithgow on Sunday. We started off very well but had Steven Daly to thank when he pulled off a terrific save to keep the score level. Tigger was playing at the top of his form and soon had us 1-0 front with a well worked goal. Hearts were by this time playing attractive football with some lovely passing moves. Next to score was Chris Cockburn who slammed in from close range to make it 2-0. Lee Jones then popped up to head home his first goal for the team to make it 3-0 just before the break. This proved to be game of 'two halves' when we had to take off the influential Sean Menzies from midfield after he picked up an injury. Linlithgow soon got to grip with the game and scored to make it 3-1. Hearts by this time started to tire as this was their 4th game in one week, having played 3 times for the school. Changes were made to try and freshen things up but we still failed to recapture our first half performance and Linlithgow scored to make the final 3-2.
Sat 27th March - U 13s: Won 12 - 0 against Linlithgow. The best way to describe this game? For once I’m stuck for words. Colin, Gary and myself have been telling the boys all season to play simple football. Pass and move. No single player has to take on the opposition. Well for 10 minutes it looked like they were going to ignore us as usual, then something seemed to click. Our keeper, Liam, threw the ball out wide to Saq who played it inside to Daniel, who played it across the park to Chris, who……I lost track of the whole thing after that but I would swear the whole team had a touch before Paul stuck it into the back of the net. IT WAS A CRACKER! And that, as the saying goes, was the beginning of the end……great goals, great football…..and one very proud Coach..ME!!
Paul Deary scored 4, Kieran Fraser 2, Michael Campbell 2, Liam Forrest 2, Craig Thomson 1 and Iain Gorman 1.
But it wasn’t just about the goals. It was truly a team performance. People like Kye, Stephen, John and Scott in midfield worked their socks off. Our back four of Daniel, Saq, Chris and Iain were superb. Liam in goal did everything right when asked.
As for our subs; well anyone who’s played the game knows how hard it is to come on and adjust to the pace of things, well our guys did great.
Our next game is against Muriston in the County Cup and they will present us with stiffer opposition. They sit five above us in the League but if we go out with the same attitude we showed against ‘lithgow we can turn them over. GO GET ‘EM HEARTS!! - Brian
Sat 20th March - U 11s: Lost 3-4 against Newlands. Goals: Stephen Pryde (2) and Andrew McKibbens. Man of the Match: Daniel Duffy. Next match at James Young High School against Queensferry (KO 10.45).
Sat 13th March - U 11s: Won 4-2 at home against Linlithgow Palace. Goals: Murray Spooner (3) and Adam Cutkelvin. Man of the Match shared by Murray Spooner and Daniel Duffy.

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