Tynecastle FC got the game underway in what was the last South East Region YFA final of the 2014-15 season. Both sides started quietly, taking their time to have a good look at their opponents whilst probing for an opening.

The opening 20 minutes really only saw one good chance and that fell for Leith after seven minutes when Jack Hamilton squared the ball to Findlay Paxton,  who fired a powerful drive just over the bar from 25 yards. 

Leith were starting to edge the game which saw Aiden Walter go on a good run and managed to get a shot away whilst under pressure from a number of Tynecastle players. The shot was taken comfortably by Sam Robinson in the Tynecastle goal.

The men from Leith opened the scoring on 23 minutes when a long ball played forward was latched onto by Hamilton who found himself one-on-one with Simpson. Leith’s number eight took full advantage when he fired beyond Robinson into the empty net to put his side in front.

Tynecastle, who so far had not really posed much of a threat, created an opportunity through Callum Bremner but he put his effort from 20 yards out straight at Adam McLean in the Leith goal. Leith repaid the compliment when Paxton put his free kick straight down the throat of Robinson in the opposition goal.

Tynie started to get into the game and McLean had to react quickly to come and claim a ball played through from Jake Coulter looking for Aaron Wilson before the Tynecastle man could take advantage. McLean was called into action again when he had to make a sharp stop from Owen Winnik’s attempt at goal. He was involved in his side’s next move when he slipped in Coulter with a neat through ball but the linesman’s flag halted his advance deeming  that he was offside.

Into the last five minutes of the half and Leith came close to doubling their lead when a long ball by Walters saw Hamilton try and lob the ball into the net. Luckily for Tynecastle, their pursuing player just got enough on the ball to deflect it away from Robinson’s goal.

Leith had their keeper to thank big time when he produced a tremendous double save to deny Tynecastle right on of the stroke half time to ensure his side went into the break with their one goal advantage in tact.

Leith got the second half restarted after the interval and an early shot from Hamilton went past the right post. Tynecastle had the next attempt when Bremner found Martin Maughan who slipped the ball into Winnik but he saw his shot blocked.

Alex Hyndman then found Hamilton who hit a powerful drive from 20 yards out forcing Robinson in the Tynecastle goal into a good save to parry the ball. At the other end a 40-yard free kick played in by Wilson was taken comfortably by McLean.

The men from Saughton must have thought they had levelled on 54 minutes when Winnik saw Coulter latch onto his ball in and hit a full-blooded shot from six yards out. The Tynecastle players were just about to celebrate when McLean in the Leith goal pulled off a top class reaction save to turn the ball behind for a corner.

McLean was then called into action minutes later when he made a good save with his feet to deny Wilson.  Leith’s Hamilton found himself in the referee’s book after a rash tackle on Tynecastle's Matthew Brown as he set off down the right flank. 

Tynecastle came centimetres from getting all square on the hour mark when a fine turn-and-hit from Jackson Cowan saw McLean rooted to the spot in the Leith goal as the ball rolled past the left hand post. The men in maroon were having their best spell in the game when a cross in from Winnik was met with the outstretched leg of Daniel Purves 15 yards from goal which was taken by McLean.

Leith were sitting very deep and were inviting Tynecastle onto them time and time again and the pressure paid off when they got a well-deserved equaliser after 69 minutes. A Wilson corner in from the right was met by Winnik who was left unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box. He headed the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Leith seemed to get the message after the equaliser and started to play the football they showed earlier in the game. A free kick, 30 yards out on the left, was floated into the box by Liam Reid which was just out of reach of Paxton at the back post.

Six minutes to go and a long ball forward set Patterson Marfo on his way. A great powerful run into the box under pressure from the Tynie player saw the Leith man use his strength to keep control of the ball. His chance of getting a shot away was halted when the linesman flagged for a foul against him, which was very harsh as it looked like the two players were fairly vying for the ball.

Marfo had the last laugh when right on full time full time he won the cup for Leith. Much like his previous chance, he latched onto a long ball forward and drove towards goal. Simpson came out his box to try and win the ball but Marfo kept his composure and slotted the ball under the keeper and watched as the ball rolled into the centre of the net.

A corner on the right side gave Tynecastle one final opportunity to try and keep their cup dreams alive and came so close when Andrew Lickley put his header just wide of the left upright which was greeted by the full time whistle. Cue mass celebrations from the Leith players, coaches and supporters.