Club 40/279 – Formartine United

Match: Formartine Untied v Lossiemouth
Date: 26/02/2022
Venue: North Lodge Park, Pitmedden
Competition: Highland League
Entry Fee: £10
Travel: £47.50
Miles completed today: 334
Total miles remaining: 38025

Having spent the entirety of February in the east of Scotland I was finishing with a camel trek up to a place I’d never heard of. Naively, I’d always thought Formartine was a place in it’s own right but they hail from a small village called Pitmedden about 15 miles north of Aberdeen.
As the nearest train station is around 8 miles away it’s a pain to get here by public transport and is so much cheaper by bus. The downside is that buses are always late so you need to plan in advance and give yourself a little time in between meaning 16.5 hours out the house!
After doing a wee bit research there were two names at the club who stood out. Manager Paul Lawson played for Celtic, Motherwell & Ross County and is assisted by his brother in law who just happens to be former Aberdeen star and Scotland international Russell Anderson.

Odds:
Formartine United 1/12
Draw 8/1
Away 10/1

Things looked bleak for Lossiemouth who have never won (nor drawn) a game at North Lodge Park before in eleven attempts.
Formartine are currently 6th in the table and have only finished below this position once since joining the league in 2009. They aren’t in the running for the title but still have an outside shot at a top 4 finish if they finish the season strongly.
Lossiemouth are 15th but well clear of any relegation worries. They do struggle for goals having only scored 24 in 26 league games and my prediction was a 4-0 home victory.

The Ground

North Lodge Park is found right on the corner between an A & B road just outside Pitmedden. It’s accessible on foot via a muddy footpath but there’s no avoiding walking by the roadside even if only for a minute – you need to keep your wits about you.
It was a clear day but with a strong cold wind so it’s a major plus point that the ground has multiple sheltered areas. Two seated stands separated by the dugouts is where the home fans/hospitality are whilst the away fans congregate by two small sheltered terracing areas. Like most grounds at this level and below, you get freedom of movement and can watch the game from wherever you like.
As I nipped in for a customary steak pie I noticed the club were selling old home strips for £15 each. I couldn’t resist and picked myself one up. That’s two Highland League clubs and two shirts, maybe I’ll get a shirt from all 18?
The crowd was fairly sparse but the weather and the big occasion at Pittodrie probably had an effect on this. The hospitality was very busy and no doubt the club would’ve made their cash from here.

The Game

As the action got underway a young innocent voice close by asked his dad if the red team were Liverpool. Hopefully he wasn’t disappointed Salah and Mane hadn’t turned up today but we didn’t have to wait long for the first goal – less than a minute in fact! Scott Lislie broke through the Lossie defence and rounded the goalkeeper to slot the ball into an empty net.
To be fair to Lossiemouth, they didn’t let the setback affect them and Dean Stewart hit the bar with a header from a corner. This should’ve been a warning shot but Formartine did not take heed as the next corner was nodded home by Fergus Edwards at the back post.
Afterwards was an interesting period as both sides battled for possession and tried to use the conditions to their advantage with balls in behind the opposing defences.
Formartine took the lead as a cross from the right hand side was finished off by Jonathan Smith. He added his second only a few minutes later attacking the ball at the back post and heading into the top corner.
They added a fourth just before half time through Graeme Rodger who’s initial close range effort was well saved by Logan Ross in the Lossie goal but Rodger tapped home the rebound and the away side had crumbled.
It was a strange half as there didn’t seem to be too much between the sides yet Lossiemouth were going into the break 4-1 down – but moments of quality win games and the chances Formartine had created were deserved of the goals.
In the second half Lossie regained their composure well but almost conceded a fifth after a clever corner found Smith at the edge of the box but the bar denied him a hattrick.
Lossie pulled one back through Dean Stewart who’s controlled instep effort curled away from the keeper and into the opposite bottom corner.
Scott Lislie was booked for a dive Tom Daley would’ve been proud of. The referee called it correctly as Lislie got up, accepted the decision and jogged back into position. Diving isn’t something anyone wants to see in football but I had to admire the audacity and distance he managed to throw himself.
He didn’t care all too much though as he scored the last goal of the game – a carbon copy of the opener, latching on to a through ball and rounding the goalkeeper again.
A competitive and entertaining match played in challenging conditions.

Full time: Formartine United 5-2 Lossiemouth

MOTM

Jonathan Smith was a real handful for Lossiemouth’s back line and his two goals coupled with his ability to hold up the ball and bring his team mates into the game is reason enough to take the award this time.
A professional and efficient performance.

Summary

A welcomed win for Formartine won by moments of quality going forward. Lossie can take some heart from the fact they weren’t outplayed but it wasn’t their day.
A goal fest is always welcome, especially when they’re split between the sides and I witnessed two teams actively looking to win a game of football – I enjoyed that.
Pitmedden is one of the smallest places I’ve visited so far and nowhere close is really accessible on foot so Formartine United likely play a big part in outsiders visiting the village on a Saturday afternoon.
When talking about groundhopping I often say ‘when would you visit these places if not for a game of football?’ and Pitmedden is a shining example. A lovely, yet small and isolated place to be but a real successful and enjoyable experience at North Lodge Park.

As the games go by I’m becoming more and more determined to win a half time draw. Maybe next time eh?

I enjoy a linesman that’ll give players a bit back.

Club 39/279 – East Craigie

Match: East Craigie v Downfield
Date: 19/02/2022
Venue: Craigie Park, Dundee
Competition: Midlands League
Entry Fee: £6
Travel: £7
Miles completed today: 176
Total miles remaining: 38359

I do my best to keep up with all the senior leagues in Scotland. Throughout the season I’d noticed a team in Dundee winning most of their games (and convincingly too) despite playing most of the season away from home due to pitch issues.
That team was East Craigie – Dundee’s oldest football club. Speaking to a few guys that know the Midlands League better than I do they were surprised the club were doing so well this season but all were complimentary of the way they played. With that in mind I thought I’d make the journey and find out why East Craigie are top dogs in the league and boy did I find out!

Odds:
East Craigie 1/10
Draw 8/1
Downfield 9/1

McBookie couldn’t see past the in form home side but the odds seemed a little harsh to me. East Craigie aren’t top by accident though. In the 26 league games the club had played so far, 23 of those were victories, only a single draw & loss scoring 108 goals in the process. These are seriously impressive stats.

The Ground

East Craigie play at Craigie Park which is less than two miles from the city centre. I was messaged by the club beforehand offering to give me a welcome which is a top class gesture in itself.
From the moment I entered the park I was treated like royalty and well looked after. Committee member Ged along with co-manager’s Craig & Sean were among the first to say hello and gave up their time without hesitation despite being busy with pre match duties.
I was offered food & drink which they refused to take my money for and after the game I was invited into the managers room for a craic with all the coaching staff. Genuinely the most welcoming club I’ve been to so far and I can’t speak highly enough of them.
There was a great crowd here – north of 200 I’d say along with a crowdy hospitality group who kept everyone entertained with random football songs which seemed to get louder every time they finished another drink.
The game hadn’t kicked off and I was already having a great time.
There are small mounds around three ends of the ground which is handy for a vantage point – something I always look for.
The pitch has been an issue for the club, so severely that hey had to play most of their early season games away from home. It’s very uneven and cut up easily but this didn’t stop them playing some beautiful stuff at times.
I was in good company – Craig Levein was in attendance looking for players he might be able to take to Brechin City whilst Lee Wilkie was here to watch his son who plays left back for the shipbuilders.

The Game

The opening stages were fiercely competitive but it took the home side only 10 minutes to take the lead. The ball bundled around the box before falling to Lee Cameron who poked the ball home from close range.
It was two shortly after as Downfield gave the ball away at the back. The ball was squared to Grady McGrath who smashed the ball into the top corner. They had their third after only 25 minutes as Sean Reekie beat Downfield’s keeper in the air and his header bounced into the empty net.
Downfield did manage to see it through to half time without conceding again and still looked a danger but their keeper had made a couple of excellent saves in the process.
In the second half East Craigie were even more relentless. Rory Faulkner stole the ball inside the box for 4-0 before Grady McGrath added a fifth and a sixth and almost a seventh but his penalty was saved!
Sean Reekie burst through Downfield’s defence and cut the ball across goal to Stewart McConnachie who scored number seven.
The final goal in the game came from Jack Wilkie who scored a beautifully controlled header looping over the keeper and into the far corner.
I was impressed by the mentality of East Craigie. Even when the eighth goal was scored there were shouts of ‘get the ball‘ and ‘go again‘ ‘can we get one more‘ and ‘keep working hard‘ from the dugout just to name a few. The players aren’t allowed to slack even when the game is out of sight. I also learned that the managers had a bit of a go at the players at half time despite being 3-0 up. It did work as they performed better in the second half.
Their unselfishness going forward really stood out to me. They’d cut the ball back often, they’d play 1,2’s around defenders and work hard for each other on and off the ball.
Downfield looked decent in small spells but were overran by a hungry and talented team.
I arrived asking the question ‘why are East Craigie top of the league?’ and I got my answers.

Full time: East Craigie 8-0 Downfield

MOTM

I’ll take the easy option and go with hat trick scorer Grady McGrath. His 3 goals were all emphatically taken.
His first goal is described above but the second and third were half chances that he managed to convert. The second goal was a through ball which put him in behind the defence but his first touch to get a difficult ball out of his feet left the defender chasing before rounding the goalkeeper whilst his third was a body feint to let the ball run across the face of the defender giving him just enough time and space to strike home.
Fraser McLeod won the official MOTM and was excellent as was Downfield’s goalkeeper who kept the score down saving a penalty and an incredible double save from point blank range after spilling a free kick.
East Craigie to a man were excellent and they’ll be happy with their days work.

Summary

Whilst I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed all of my experiences so far East Craigie are my favourite. They’re the most friendly and welcoming club that genuinely took an interest in what I was doing which they really don’t have to do.
The value for money is incredible. A strong team playing some great football scoring 8 goals and it’s only 6 quid to get in!
The league is far from won – they still have 9 league games left and Carnoustie are only 6 behind with a game in hand.
However, playing like this will win you most games and having seen the demand put on the players first hand I’ll be backing them to get the job done.
Although I don’t rank the clubs I visit East Craigie are firmly at number one and will take some beating.

Finally I’d like to thank everyone at the club for the welcome and the hospitality was top drawer and it’ll never go unappreciated – A real credit to themselves and the club.

Club 38/279 – Bathgate Thistle

Match: Bathgate Thistle v Edinburgh College
Date:12/02/2022
Venue: Creamery Park, Bathgate
Competition: EOS Conference X
Entry Fee: £6
Travel: £14.20
Miles completed today: 68
Total miles remaining: 38535

Sometimes (and especially in Scotland) the weather ruins your plans. I’d chosen a local derby in Armadale v Whitburn but as this was called off and Bathgate was close by I ended up here completely unplanned.
Like most clubs in the division, Bathgate are ex Junior and even won the coveted Junior Cup in 2008 after losing in the final just two years earlier.
Some of my favourite experiences have come from completely unplanned events so got to Bathgate full of optimism but without knowing what to expect.

Preview

Bathgate Thistle Last 5
LWLLL

Edinburgh College Last 5
LWLLL

Odds:
Bathgate Thistle 21/10
Draw 9/2
Edinburgh College 31/50

Bathgate were bottom of the league but a victory would see them leapfrog their opponents (and potentially Pumpherston too) so there was plenty at stake. I’d personally have had the home team down as favourites but McBookie were backing the College.
My prediction was a physical battle ending with a 1-0 home victory.

The Ground
I arrived only a few minutes before kick off so didn’t get my normal look around the town but Creamery Park is extremely easy to find and it’s an excellent ground.
Entry is via the stand which is a large terraced and covered area large enough to host all the spectators which is a godsend on a wet and windy day like this.
There’s a pavilion next to the stand hosting the dressing rooms and a clubhouse which looks on to the pitch. The weather was so unpredictable that at least one person watched the entire game from the clubhouse.
Even the surface was in good condition, especially considering the game I had planned only 2.5 miles away was off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Overall I’m impressed with the setup here and I was ready to watch an entertaining game.

The Game

Much of this match was a midfield battle with few clear cut chances created but plenty of hard work and application. In the early stages both teams looked good going forward and a little shaky at the back.
It was Bathgate who took the lead on 20 minutes as McInnes cut inside from the left and squeezed the ball between the Edinburgh goalkeeper and his near post from the edge of the box for 1-0.
The lead only lasted 8 minutes as the College’s Kriss Gaff controlled the ball out of the air and struck a sweet half volley across the Bathgate goal and into the corner.
There was a big incident in the first half as Edinburgh #10 (who I think was playing centre half) drove with the ball out of defence. He sprinted into the space in front of him but overran the ball as he went and flew into a tackle taking the ball and plenty of the man.
The Bathgate players and spectators were incensed but the referee went with just a yellow.
It’s one of those tackles that whilst the rules are consistent throughout all levels of senior football, it’s always a red card in the Premiership yet you might just get away with it at this level – He was a lucky boy.
I had a chuckle at one of the College’s coach who bemoaned the ref with cries of ‘How is that a booking?’
My reply to that would be… because it’s not 1982 anymore.
Bathgate came close right on half time as a wonderfully struck free kick from range came off the bar but it was level at the break.
The second half had less in the way of big chances yet it always looked as though there was a goal on the hirizon.
The winner came just 3 minutes into the second half as #6 either played the best through ball or the worst shot I’ve ever seen. Either way this put Mark McGovern beyond the defence and he smashed the ball past the onrushing keeper high into the net. Bathgate’s defence screamed for offside but I had a decent view and thought he was on.
From there it was Edinburgh who looked the more likely but couldn’t find the space they needed. Bathgate couldn’t breakthrough the midfield and the forward players were starved of much service.
The most exciting part of the game was the last 10 minutes as Bathgate threw the kitchen sink at their opponents and it’s a shame full time came when it did.

Full time: Bathgate Thistle 1-2 Edinburgh College

MOTM

My man of the match award goes to Edinburgh College’s Kriss Gaff This guy is huge in stature but he’s quick and technical too – the technique involved in his first goal is testament to this.
He caused Bathgate problems all day and did actually score a second that was (rightfully) called offside.
If there was a man out there who deserved to be on the winning side it’s him!

Summary

It’s a disappointing day for Bathgate as they remain bottom but Edinburgh College controlled the game for much of the second half and had the better chances therefore deserving the victory.
Creamery Park however is an excellent facility – so much so that Rangers & Motherwell’s youth teams previously played home games here alongside Bathgate.
There’s plenty of places for a good view and you’re well covered if the rain hammers down. It has floodlights with a good surface and it’s one of the better grounds I’ve got to this season.
All is not lost for Bathgate and despite being bottom they’re certainly not a bad side.
Good luck to them!

Club 37/279 – Lochee United

Match: Lochee United v Tayport
Date: 05/02/2022
Venue: Thomson Park, Dundee
Competition: Midlands League
Entry Fee: £6
Travel: £31
Miles completed today: 172
Total miles remaining: 38603

Thomson Park is a groundhoppers favourite. I’d tried to find out why earlier in the season to take in a Lochee derby but the game was postponed en route. Lochee United v Tayport is a big game in Tayside and I found this the perfect opportunity to have a look around.
I didn’t know too much about the club beforehand. They get a mention in 5 Rebeccas by The View which is one of my favourite songs – ‘Floating with the schemers and the part time Halloweener’s and the Lochee team‘. At least I hope that’s about the football club and not the local young team.
United have always been one of the stronger sides in the region and whilst they had their golden period during the 70’s and 80’s, they won the East Superleague as recently as 2019.
Now in the new Midlands league, Lochee United are still in the title chasing pack. On top of the competitive rivalry that exists between the sides, the ‘Blue Bells’ as they’re known simply must win to keep pace at the top and anything other than a victory would leave their title hopes bleak at best. It’ as good a reason as any to make the trip across the country to take it in.

Preview

Lochee United Last 5 (League)
WDWLW

Tayport Last 5 (League)
WWWWW

Odds:
Lochee United 1/2
Draw 9/2
Tayport 13/5

Lochee are on a high after last weeks derby win and their only recent loss was away to high flying Carnoustie.
Tayport would be dangerous opponents and haven’t lost a match since October 23rd. Their manager Eddie Wolecki Black used to be manager here before a successful stint in the women’s game and had yet to taste defeat as boss.
United manager George Shields has his team firing on all cylinders scoring 91 goals in just 22 league games.
My pre match prediction (ill informed as always) was a 3-2 home win.

The Ground
Thomson Park is found in the Dryburgh area of Dundee and has been Lochee United’s home since 1959.
It’s an exciting time to be a follower here as the club have put the wheels in motion to gain an SFA license meaning they’d be eligible from promotion and entry to the Scottish Cup.
To help achieve this, floodlights have recently been installed and local contractor McGill recently completed £100,000 worth of improvements including their dressing room which would be the awe of most non league clubs.
There’s a large sheltered & terraced stand behind one of the goals where most spectators on a windy & cold afternoon decided to congregate.
The best views can be seen from a mound which almost gives you a birds eye view of the action. Lochee are well supported and I love that you can hear the ‘ooh’s and ahh’s’ when chances are missed or a tackle flies in – it’s a big part of an authentic footballing experience often missing from non league grounds.
The part I was most impressed with was the food kiosk. Firstly, the lady behind the counter was one of the most friendly and welcoming people I’ve ever met. Secondly, A steak pie and a decent portion of chips can be purchased for a combined total of £3. Where else in Scottish football can you get that sort of value?

The Game

Lochee had the better of the early exchanges with some sustained pressure in the final third. The final ball wasn’t quite there and there was a penalty shout too but Tayport weathered this storm.
It was the away side who took the lead when Jamie Gill drove around 70 yards through the midfield and unleashed a pinpoint strike in off the post from range.
Lochee were having some success on the out wide with both wingers getting by the full backs but nothing came to fruition. Their biggest chance came from a strike on the left hand side across goal that was tipped round the post by Tayport’s goalkeeper.
In the second half Tayport doubled their lead with a spectacular free kick from Ryan Paterson. Struck from range with power and dip the ball hit the underside of the bar on the way in.
Lochee struggled to get out of their own half for much of the second half. A mixture of tenacious pressing from their opposition and some misplaced passes.
The last 15 minutes saw the home side’s best spell and they created some big chances.
One was well saved by the Tayport keeper whilst the other was a header from a free kick put wide of the post.
I stood by the Lochee dugout for a spell during the game and overheard their disappointed with the performance. It’s frustration for Lochee and elation for Tayport.

Full time: Lochee United 0-2 Tayport

MOTM

I was a big fan of Ryan Paterson’s performance. This was a complete performance and a joy to watch,
He can tackle, he can beat a man, he can pass the ball with precision and always makes the right decision.
He can also score long range free kicks and his goal is up there with the best I’ve seen this season.

Summary

It’s a shame that I turned up on such a disappointing day for Lochee United but it was still a fantastic experience. Thomson Park boasts friendly and forward thinking committee members and I believe the club are in safe hands with an exciting future.
For any groundhoppers reading, Thomson Park is a no brainer. A great ground and one of the strongest sides in the league on the park – It’s a good place to be at the moment.
Tayport fully deserved their win on the day having controlled the midfield for most of the game and scoring two excellent goals. It’s the first time Tayport have won at Thomson Park in 26 years! Perhaps one that Lochee will want to write off as a bad day at the office and move on, but I’m sure even they wouldn’t grudge Tayport the victory on the face of the 90 minutes.
Regardless of the result, Lochee have had a decent season thus far and I’d love to see them cutting cloth in the Highland League in the next few seasons.

Finally I’d like to give a big shout out to Pete – Tayport’s communications officer. I was contacted on Twitter through the clubs account and on the day he gave up some time to have a chat about football whilst handing me a Tayport hat (which I’ll wear when I visit) and a pin badge.
A classy gesture that I promise never goes unappreciated.

Club 36/279 – Hibernian

Match: Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian
Date: 01/02/2022
Venue: Easter Road, Edinburgh
Competition: Cinch Premiership
Entry Fee: £35
Travel: £16.90
Miles completed today: 108
Total miles remaining: 38775

The Edinburgh Derby. Hibs and Hearts has been a regular fixture in the Scottish football calendar for almost 147 years and has grown into one of the juiciest and most important.
Two of Scotland’s biggest clubs were due to battle it out in our capital city and I was lucky enough to have a ticket.
It wasn’t easy to procure a match ticket. Using Hibernian’s online ticket system I learned that ‘category A’ games are only sold to those who have a 12 month previous purchase history. I emailed Hibernian about this and was told no can do – however reading their t’s and c’s an eligible Hibernian fan buying a ticket in their name with literally no traceable details back to me is allowed. Go figure?
Category A games are matches against Celtic, Rangers or Hearts. I understand why you’d have this ruling in place for the Glasgow clubs who will sell out their allocation and look for tickets in the home end but how many Hearts fans would buy a ticket to sit amongst their biggest rivals?
Regardless… I’d beaten the system and was in.
I’m realistic enough to know that this fixture would produce the best atmosphere possible inside Easter Road – and even more so if Hibs won the game. Hearts are a very good side in their own right and were confident of spoiling the party.

Preview

Hibernian last 5
WLWDL

Heart of Midlothian Last 5
WWWLW

Odds:
Hibernian 15/8
Draw 21/10
Hearts 8/5

Hearts have been excellent this season and were favourites however Hibernian are a a dangerous and talented team adapting to a new manager and philosophy
I called it before the game (evidence on my twitter feed). My prediction was a 0-0 draw.
I believe that Hibernian’s anthem ‘Sunshine on Leith’ is easily one of the best football songs you’ll find anywhere in the world and I was longing to hear this in full flow but that was only going to happen with a victory so I’ll admit to being off the fence for this one.

The Ground

Only a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley, Easter Road is an extremely accessible ground in a popular part of the city.
On approach, I was able to hear faint singing from the surrounding streets before I was even able to see the stadium lights. I saw Hearts fans on one side of the road in numbers singing songs and Hibernian fans on the other doing the same and a hefty police presence in the middle.
Don’t get me wrong, this was trouble free and all in good spirits but the atmosphere was bubbling before I even stepped foot into the ground and I began to understand and feel the passion that surrounds this fixture.
Vaccine passport checks are in place in line with the law and the steward studied mine vigorously as if I had something to hide but it’s a quick process and I was in.
The noise Easter Road generates on derby day is nothing short of spectacular. Liam from Retro Video Club (a local band) gave us an acoustic rendition of ‘Hibs Heroes’ of which the home fans joined in and the roar from both sets of supporters as the teams took to the field was certainly a highlight of my groundhopping adventures so far.
Hearts fans are given a full stand on derby day which means they can be easily heard when singing themselves. This provokes the Hibernian fans to sing a song a little louder to drown them out and this back and forward chanting leaves you a thunderous atmosphere that lasts for a full 90 minutes.
It’s fair to say I was in awe of the occasion – a magnificent experience.

The Match

As Edinburgh derbies usually are, this was a feisty encounter. Three bookings in the first seventeen minutes will testify to this.
A beautiful yet poignant moment occurred in the 13th minute as both sets of fans rose to their feet in a minutes applause in memory of young Devin Gordon – a Hearts supported who lost his life aged only 13.
As I looked around the crowd to find them all in unison I noticed that the referee had stopped the match to allow the players to join in with the applause. There’s something powerful about seeing rivalry being set aside for something more important.
Hibernian looked the better team in the first half with a couple of ‘nearly’ moments but the biggest talking point was the decision not to award Hearts a penalty as Lewis Stevenson barged into Ellis Simms in the box. At the time I wasn’t sure and if I was the referee I wouldn’t have given it either but having later seen a replay I believe this should’ve been given and Hibs really got away with one. Goalless at the break.
The second half was much more scrappy but it was Hearts’ turn to dominate. Hibs at times really had to weather the storm but a mixture of committed defending and solid goalkeeping from debutant Kevin Dabrowski who handled the occasion like an experienced pro beyond his years kept the scores level.
The biggest chance of the match fell to Josh Campbell with only a few minutes to go as he found himself with plenty of space inside the box to tee up a volley but whilst his effort beat Craig Gordon, Toby Sibbick was expertly positioned to clear the ball off the line and deny Hibs the win
No goals unfortunately nor too much goalmouth action, but a very loud and passionate emotional rollercoaster of a goalless encounter.

Full time: Hibernian 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

MOTM

My pick this time round is Hibs defender Ryan Porteous. Whenever Hibs looked to be in a spot of trouble (which was frequent during the second half) Ryan was there, He won every tackle, every header and if he couldn’t get close enough to do either – he threw himself in front of the ball. He initiated attacks by driving out of defence with the ball and he was a joy to watch. He may not be the Hibs captain but for me it was a captain’s performance.
A massive kudos to Kevin Dabrowski too. The 23 year old only found out on the morning of the game that he’d make his long awaited Hibernian debut and to take such a match in his stride whilst performing to the levels he did will do his chances of becoming Hibs number one no harm at all.
When Macey is back fit Shaun Maloney will have a tough decision to make.

Summary
I understand that turning up on derby day generates a much greater matchday experience than your average game but I cannot speak highly enough of Hibernian and their supporters.
The noise, the passion and the desperation to win was fascinating to watch but my heart was broken that I didn’t get to hear a Sunshine on Leith rendition.
I’m aware that it’s still early on in my journey to get round every club in Scotland’s pyramid but Easter Road is my undisputed favourite so far. Please visit if you can and if you wangle a ticket to the big one – even better.
Genuinely, I loved every minute of this experience and once my groundhopping project is complete it’ll be high on my list of clubs to revisit.
Hibs are going through a transitional phase having not long hired former Belgium assistant Shaun Maloney as manager and whilst result aren’t quite there yet I’m seeing enough in their performance levels to suggest they’ll come good and I’m backing him to do well.

An incredible personal stat to finish (and one that Hibees will enjoy). This match was the 18th time I’ve seen Hearts play live spanning 21 years and I’ve never seen them win a game.