AC OXGANGS 95 won 4-1 over Tynecastle 95 to cement their position second from the top of division one, in a game of two halves.

The away side raced into a 3-0 lead early on, but Tynecastle replied with a superb effort to pull them back into the game. However, shortly before halftime Oxgangs scored once more to make it 4-1 and effectively seal the game.

The second half yielded few chances as Tynecastle worked hard to prevent Oxgangs creating chances. The home side looked more dangerous but failed to create enough clear goal scoring opportunities to add to their one goal tally.

Oxgangs looked dangerous from the off, and the Tynecastle defence were aware to keep Connaire Lyons at bay as he ran towards goal, Scott Gordon making the vital interception.

Aman Habtemariam turned sharply and shot wide from just outside the area before the deadlock was broken. A great pass over the top from Declan Hogg found David Scott who calmy finished over Lee Ballantyre in the Tynecastle goal.

Tynecastle managed to get hold of the ball for a short spell and David Boyle curled in a shot which was easily held by Oxgangs keeper Connor Lunn.

But Oxgangs were clinical in finishing and found themselves 2-0 up after 20 minutes. The instrumental Declan Hogg latched onto a pass from Connaire Lyons and struck low into the goal to put substance to the away side’s early dominance of the match.

Four minutes later, from a corner, Drew Thomson smashed in the third Oxgangs goal. They had looked dangerous from previous corners and capitalised when the Tynecastle defence failed to clear the ball.

Again, Tynecastle tried to find a way back into the game. David Boyle saw another effort on goal stray off target before Alex Wilson produced a superb piece of individual brilliance to pull Tynecastle back into the game. The ball broke back to Tynecastle’s number six around thirty yards from goal, and from there he smashed a dipping volley over the keeper who could nothing to prevent it.

The goal lifted the spirits of the Tynecastle side but also reminded the Oxgangs players that the game wasn’t over.

Tynecastle’s Liam Henderson shot wide from the edge of the area on 39 minutes but shortly after, the home side found themselves 4-1 down.

The ball was played high into the box and Nathan Leicester was sharp to get in front of the Tynecastle keeper and head over him and into the net from 12 yards. Although Oxgangs were worthy of their lead in the game, Tynecastle may have felt disappointed to lose a goal and cancel out the work they’d done earlier in the half.

Half time: Tynecastle 95 1-4 AC Oxgangs 95

At the start of the second half, it looked as if Oxgangs would continue on from where they had left off in the first half. Aman Habtemariam chipped the ball over Lee Ballantyne in the Tynecastle goal but the Oxgangs’ number 11 could only watch the ball cannon back off the crossbar.

However, the two teams lacked cutting edge in a second half which saw many chances squandered at both ends.

On 51 minutes, Connor Lunn, in the Oxgangs goal, was called into action to save Liam Henderson’s header from a Matthew Sampson cross.

At the other end, Nathan Leicester dragged the ball wide in front of an empty goal, after Murray McCallum and Kyle Grier exchanged passes down the right side.

Matthew Sampson was involved again in a Tynecastle attack as he turned and shot just over Connor Lunn’s goal.

David Scott had two more efforts late on to add to Oxgangs lead but his volley across goal went just wide, and a header was saved by Lee Ballantyne. That would be the last action in front of goal as the referee blew to end the game.

Full time: Tynecastle 95 1-4 AC Oxgangs 95

AC Oxgangs defenders were composed and solid for most of the match to preserve their team’s lead whilst midfielder Declan Hogg contributed to a lot of the damage done in the first half. Other good performances included Oxgangs David Scott and Connaire Lyons who were very dangerous up front and caused a lot of problems for the Tynecastle defence.

For Tynecastle, Liam Henderson worked hard up front and tried to create chances for the home side throughout the game. Alex Wilson scored a fabulous goal for Tynecastle and got forward in support of the attacks as well as help defend.

On another day the score may have been very different as both teams could have scored on numerous occasions. In fairness, Oxgangs dominated the first half and won deservedly, but were pegged back in the second half by a much more competitive Tynecastle side.