Report

Heartbreak for Heston.

Heston played Mid Annandale for a place in the league cup final and were put out in the cruelest possible fashion.  Heston as usual when they play the stronger teams in the league they always make things harder for themselves, this time by giving away 3 cheap goals in the first half.  Heston were asked to go out and be brave by making tackles and when in possession of the ball being brave enough to get their foot on the ball and pass it around.  Heston conceded early when the Mids player broke about 3 tackles and slotted the ball home.  Heston looked to have froze in the big game and took another 10 mins to settle.  Half way through the the half Heston had an 8-10 minute spell when they completly dominated possession and field position and were rewarded when Aiden Kerr slipped in Colin Clark who beat the goalie with a high left footed effort.  Instead of this inspiring Heston they retreated and allowed Mids to grabbed 3 goals before half time which they didnt really deserve.  Ryan Gibson in the Heston goal made a couple of great saves during the half to keep the game alive.  HT 1-4.

Heston used the break to re-group.  It was the the first time this season i lost my temper with the boys as i know how good they are and i was really disappointed for them as they were letting the opportunity slip through their grasp.  I asked them to go out in the second half and give everything they had or they would spend the rest of the day regretting it.  And boy did the boys deliver, it was literally they best 35 mins of football they have produced all season and it says alot about their character that they done it in the biggest game of the season and against such big odds.  every single player gave it 100% to get back into the game.  From the moment the whistle went the boys went for them playing like a team that had nothing to lose.  It took patience but they were rewarded when Reece Caven side footed home a Jamie Dalzell cross to make it 4-2 and give us a glimmer of hope, sensing the opportunity for a comeback was alive we changed to a 4-4-2 pushing Jamie forward and Corey Brown coming into right back.  It was one way traffic for much of the second half and Heston really got back into the game when Christopher Newbould grabbed his first goal of the season when he beat the Mids goalie from the edge of the box.  Colin Clark then grabbed the leveller to the delight of the travelling support who had stuck by the boys through the whole game and gave them plenty of encouragement through out.  Aiden Kerr could have won it for Heston when Liam Douglas played him in but his shot from a tight angle was saved by the home goalie.  FT 4-4.

Heston went into extra time sensing they could win the game and again through out the extra 20 mins were the best team on the park and a joy to watch at times but we could just not find the killer goal and paid the ultimate price when just when it was looking likely to head to a penalty shoot out Mids grabbed a totally undeserved winner with virtually the last kick of the game.  unfortunately donald matheson was on the receiving end of a terrible tackle with end with him being carrie doff and we wish him a speedy recovery.

The boys were down after the game but they had no need to be, the courage they should to come back from 3 down and continue to play great football was great to see and the most pleasing thing to see was the team spirit they showed, especially the subs although they were disappointed to be onthe bench the encouragement and support they gave the player was great.

well done boys