Opening day blues for League winners.

Saturday 21st August 2010.

Kingdom Caledonian League

League champions Cupar Hearts opened their new league campaign with a loss at the hands of Eastvale last Saturday. Both teams were battling against the wind straight from the whistle and were struggling to produce good passing movements.

Michael Reilly for the visitors was first to show in front of goal but his curling effort went high over. He then set up Scott Pryde but Jason Curran in the home goal saved easily. Eastvale did well with some neat passes to penetrate the Hearts’ midfield but Lindsay Sharp was on hand to clear the danger. Cupar’s new ‘keeper Gary Bowman was called into action after 10 minutes when Darren Riddock volleyed the ball goalwards after a pass by James Firrester but he gathered easily. Moments later Grant Fraser sent an excellent ball for Makein to collect and he did well to cross but it was too high for Boylan who was waiting in the area. Cupar Hearts opened the scoring on the half hour mark. A mistake by Nicholas Mitchell let in Neale Smith whose pass found Michael Reilly out wide who then squared the ball to Iain Boylan. The ball just eluded Iain Boylan but Scott Pryde slotted the ball home at the back post. It wasn’t long before Eastvale equalised through another defensive error. Charles Anderson headed back towards goal but it was just out of the reach of ‘keeper Gary Bowman and Darren Riddock for the ‘Vale pounced to fire the ball in from close range taking the teams into the break even.

Both teams started the second period lively looking to take the lead and it was end to end stuff in the opening stages. A reckless tackle by Gary Bowman outside the area on Callum Connolly earned himself a yellow card on 49 minutes but Grant Fraser cleared the danger from Steven Beaumont’s resultant free kick.  At the other end Grant Fraser had a good effort go just wide after an excellent lay off by Scott Pryde. It was Eastvale who took the lead on the hour mark. Mark Cramb ran the whole of the Hearts half seeing off challenges before slotting the ball past the Hearts’ ‘keeper. He then made it three 8 minutes later when suspiciously offside he was left one-on-one with Gary Bowman between the sticks. Hearts introduced some fresh legs in a bid to get themselves back into the game. Gary Reilly and Kyle Watson replaced Grant Fraser and Michael Reilly respectfully. And it was Cupar new boy Kyle Watson who set up Hearts’ second with virtually his first touch of the match. His pass found Iain Boylan who, in spectacular fashion, blasted in from 25 yards. But it was too little too late as Eastvale’s defence stood firm to secure their victory.

Hearts: Bowman, Makein, Gilfillan, Anderson (C), Sharp, McInroy, Fraser, Smith, M. Reilly, Boylan, Pryde, G. Reilly, Watson, McEwan, Campbell and Halley.