Second-half hat-trick from Hughes puts Mayfield through

With the competition open only to teams in the Edinburgh East and West divisions of the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA, most matches played in the competition would be expected to be close affairs. Dunalbar, however, will feel the result did not reflect the balance of the game, the visitors having threatened the Mayfield goal on many occasions.

With the game level at half-time, a stunning hat-trick from Martin Hughes within ten minutes of the restart won the game for Mayfield and manager Robert Hogg said: “For the first 25 minutes, it was even. They had chances and we had chances and we got the first goal. We pushed forward and were able to win the game.”

Dunalbar coach Chris Martin felt that his team were unlucky. “We’re obviously disappointed but I think we had more than enough chances to win. We’ve created enough and we’ve usual been really strong at the back but we got found out by a few lucky balls.”

The home side, sporting new shirts supplied by sponsors Mayfield Community Centre, fashioned the first scoring opportunity after three minutes, but Alan Reid headed over the bar from 12 yards out. With 11 minutes played, Dunalbar’s Paul Martin had a shot blocked on the line by central defender Douglas Morrison after Dario Valente took the ball round goalkeeper Barry Lindley. Dunalbar central defender Fergus Wilson then headed the ball against the crossbar from Valente’s corner ten minutes later.

Mayfield opened the scoring four minutes later when Dale Thornton received the ball 30 yards from goal and launched it into the top left corner of the net, striking the post before it went in. Nine minutes later, Morrison slipped while trying to deal with a long ball and Dunalbar substitute Ryan Hamburgh took full advantage by curling the ball into the bottom left corner from long range to level the score. Five minutes before half-time, Mayfield’s David Gillan struck the crossbar with a shot from 30 yards.

The Mayfield onslaught started immediately after the restart. Darren Mitchell’s shot was saved by Brian McAteer, but Hughes smashed the rebound into the bottom left corner.

Hughes added his second five minutes later, striking low into the middle of the net after a deflection off Dunalbar defender Kenneth McKenzie. And he completed his hat-trick after 56 minutes with a low free-kick into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.

Dunalbar had not given up and tried to pull some of the goals back in the closing stages. With 19 minutes remaining, Valente chipped the ball over the crossbar from eight yards out after Hamburgh’s quick free-kick. Jamie Di Sotto’s shot was saved shortly after.

The away team received a penalty in stoppage time when Valente was ruled to have fouled Mitchell, but Murdo Steven put the spot kick well wide of the left post.

Dunalbar’s Martin added: “We try to play from the back and we do not usually lose goals like the goals we lost today.

“I’m happy with what we created up front. We were up against it and even at 4-1 down the guys kept their heads up and created a few chances. The penalty was a bit of a disaster.

“Considering we’ve just moved up to this association, we’re doing quite well. We’ve beaten some Premier teams in some cup competitions and had a few lessons from some

Mayfield manager Hogg reckoned his team were worthy of the victory: “They capitalised when our centre half slipped to equalise. Scoring just after half-time gave the team confidence to get the third and fourth and the game was won. Dunalbar still pressed even when they were down and all credit to them for doing so.

“We are hoping to get out the division this season.

“We are doing well at the moment and just need to keep the guys on their toes. We need to take every game as it comes. We can hopefully have a few cup runs as well.”

Mayfield and Easthouses: Barry Lindley, Scott Mitchell, Liam Hall, David Gillan, Douglas Morrison, Shaun Thornton, Dale Thornton, James Glodek, Martin Hughes, Darren Mitchell, Alan Reid, Bryan Wilson, Sean Dillon.

Dunalbar: Brian McAteer, Kenneth McKenzie, Ally Laird, Callum Robertson, Fergus Wilson, Murdo Steven, Dario Valente, Ian Hamlyn, Paul Martin, Jamie Di Sotto, Aden Donaldson, Andrew Garland, Ryan Hamburgh.