Charity wins as Hibs and Hearts fans serve up seven-goal Tynie thriller

Hearts Fans 3 - Hibs Fans 4

TYNECASTLE hosted the third annual Edinburgh Charity Cup match yesterday – and, after a thrilling match between Hibs and Hearts supporters it was Hibs skipper Duncan Smith who lifted the trophy for a second consecutive year.

The competition was this year sponsored by SBS Live Computer Support, and Maggie's Cancer Centre, based at the Western General Hospital, was chosen by the fans as this year's beneficiary.

Hibs got off to a perfect start after seven minutes with right back Graham Miller tucking away the opener from close range following attempts by captain Smith and Daniel Burns which had been parried by Hearts keeper Bruce Pringle. And, six minutes later, David Wright made it two, this time from the penalty spot following Duncan Anderson's handball.

Hibs were in control throughout the first half and it came as no surprise when they further extended their lead five minutes before the interval when Miller doubled his tally with a spectacular 25-yard effort which left Pringle stranded. Hibs could have had four before the break but Smith's powerful effort ricocheted off the right-hand post on the stroke of half-time.

Both sides made changes as the second half progressed but, when Burns whipped the ball across goal from the byline Scott Miller was on hand to make it 4-0 with just over an hour played and it looked like the match was over.

With 20 minutes remaining Niall Dolan scored what appeared to be a consolation goal for the home side. However, when a Hibs defender was adjudged to have handled in the area, Russell Hogarth further reduced the deficit from the spot with ten minutes remaining and set up an entertaining finale. Hearts' renewed confidence saw the Hibs goal under siege and, with three minutes remaining, Hogarth was again on hand to set up Craig Dickson, who lashed the ball past Hibs' substitute keeper Geoff Hunter and set up a tense five minutes of injury time.

But the visitors held on to leave Hibs' coach Fraser Ogilvie, a former youth player at Easter Road, delighted. He said: "I didn't expect to be three up at half-time and it was probably the worst thing that could have happened to us as we dropped off in the second half. A half-time team talk is hard in those circumstances as the adrenalin is pumping and we were just trying to hold it together when Hearts started to come at us.

"I made changes when I felt it necessary and overall I'm proud of the boys, they've rallied well. And when Hearts scored their third we didn't panic. Charity is the winner at the end of the day. though, everyone is here for the same reason and hopefully we raised quite a lot of money."

Hearts' captain Brian Whitson felt his side had done enough in the second half to make the match a contest. He said: "I think the motivation was there at half-time in that we didn't want to embarrass ourselves. The boys did well in the second half, but we're gutted overall."

Skipper Smith felt the Hibees had to dig deep in the second half but was delighted to once again pick up the silverware. He said: "It feels fantastic to be here as Hibs captain once again and this match is all about the hard work which the guys have put in for both teams. To be three up at half-time and then score a fourth, and then manage to hold on to our lead, was fantastic.

"I told the players at half-time we needed to treat the game as if it was all square as Hearts would come at us a lot more than they had opened the match. We struggled a bit in the second half, but overall I think we did very well and our character was great to hold out. Credit to the Hearts players to bring it back to 4-3, though, especially having been three goals behind. We raised £13,500 last year and hopefully we will eclipse that this year. I'd hope to be back here again next year for another go too!"

John Pryde, a member of the Edinburgh Charity Cup committee, said: "It was certainly nervous stuff at the end! For Hibs to have gone four up and for it to be 4-3 with a minute or so remaining meant it was certainly a close call at the end. However, the result is only one part of the day as the real winner, no matter how the game goes, is charity.

"We're proud to be helping Maggie's Cancer Care achieve what they're doing and the money will go a long way to helping them in that. We hope to once again have the backing of Hibs next year and for the return game to be played at Easter Road."

Hearts: Pringle, Nisbet, Anderson, Whitson, Cairns, Bishop, Murray, Kiakowski, McCabe, Dickson, Hogarth. Subs: Dolan, Moncrieff, Sim, Li, Alexander, Tod, Anderson, Dalgleish, McDonald.

Hibs: Auld, Miller, McRae, Black, Gillon, Pryde, Mann, Smith, Burns, Millar, Wright. Subs: Law, Hunter, Lally, Anderson, McGlade, Lowe, Laws.