Derby throws up nine-goal roller coaster

The history books will show that Tynecastle won this East of Scotland League Cup second round tie 5-4 after extra-time, but under no circumstances could the scoreline describe the drama and excitement of an enthralling 120 minutes of football witnessed, in atrocious overhead conditions, by a crowd of about 50 brave souls.

The two Capital clubs deserve great credit for putting on a display of attacking football coupled with defensive mistakes on a slippery surface. The match referee, John McKendrick, was exemplary in his decision making and despite the game being a derby with tensions running high he did not have to flourish a single card.

The ultimate dramatic moment came in the 92nd minute with Edinburgh City leading 3-2 and in possession of the ball with the whistler almost ready to blow for full time. However, a misplaced City pass allowed the lively Dean Knight to thread a superb pass to Wayne McIntosh. The striker attacked at pace, rounded City defender Ross Macnamara, and slotted the ball in from an acute angle behind Andrew Stobie in the City goal. The referee then immediately blew the full-time whistle amid scenes of great celebration from the Tynecastle players.

The game kicked off with the two clubs having met each other four times previously this season and with the honours exactly even. Although the City co-manager, John Green, had warned his players that Tynecastle would start the game quickly and at a high tempo they obviously did not heed his advice and found themselves a goal behind after only four minutes. A Dale O'Hara corner was punched clear by Stobie to Darren Aird who laid the ball to Ross Elliot. His misplaced shot found central defender John Williams who scored with a good strike from eight yards.

The rest of the first half was evenly matched with Ryan Wilson, Ian MacFarland and Andy Howat going close for City while Paul Devlin, Kenny Ross and O'Hara all had good efforts for Tynecastle.

The second half started with City on the offensive and Howat had an overhead kick which skimmed the cross bar. Then the game really erupted with three goals in a four-minute spell. Tynecastle doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when a Devlin shot was parried by Stobie and the ever-alert McIntosh fairly slammed home the rebound from ten yards.

However, straight from the kick-off City pulled themselves back into contention when a Dougie Gair cross was hit first time behind Ross McMullen by Wilson from eight yards. The momentum was now with City and they equalised three minutes later when Stenhouse took off on a powerful run down the right wing, brushed aside a challenge from Williams, and cut the ball back for Howat to net from ten yards. Stenhouse then embarked on another surging run, the City defence opened up and backed off him allowing the midfielder to shoot from 20 yards and the ball whistled into the net. But the excitement was not yet over and in the third minute of stoppage time came McIntosh's equaliser to send the contest into extra time.

Tynecastle came out of the blocks at great speed and within two minutes were ahead again. McIntosh found Knight and his 12 yard shot gave Stobie no chance before Tynecastle all but sealed their win two minutes before half-time in the extra half hour. McIntosh again set the goal up with a pass to Devlin who bundled the ball over the line from close range.

But nobody could script this encounter and with ten minutes left City gave themselves a fighting chance when Ross found Wilson who netted to make for a pulsating end. However, Tynecastle held on to their advantage to progress to the quarter finals where they will meet Civil Service Strollers.

McIntosh, the Tynecastle captain, who has now scored 23 goals this season, said: "I was probably a wee bit lucky to score the equaliser from a tight angle but I was delighted and in the end we fought well to give us a chance in a cup competition which is make or break for us this season."

Gary Jardine, City's co-manager, added: "It was really disappointing to lose that goal in stoppage time. We now need to pick ourselves up and take the positives from the game."

Tynecastle: McMullen, Aird (Law, 71), Thom, Young, Williams, Mearns, Sproule (Knight, 25), Elliot (Brown, 14), Devlin, McIntosh, O'Hara. Subs: Cunningham, Sanderson.

Edinburgh City: Stobie, Dingwall (Harrison, 76), K Ross, Macnamara, Scott, MacFarland, Stenhouse (Black, 86), Gair (McCraw, 85), Wilson, Vanson, Howat. Subs: R Ross, MacKintosh.

Tynecastle 5

Edinburgh City 4

(after extra time)