EDINBURGH NOTES.
Easter | 20/01/1902

AAs was generally expected, the Hearts safely accounted for Cowdenbeath at the second time of asking. The miners, however, presented a bold front at the start, 'and with any amount of vocal encouragement from their lusty-lunged followers, who were present in great force, they defied all the Hearts' best efforts to pierce their defence for nearly twenty-five minutes. Phillips, the Maroons old goalkeeper, early showed that he was a much-improved player, and when he had at last to acknowledge himself beaten by af shot from Walker, it was at such close quarters as to be unsaveable. Thomson, Walker, and Porteous put in some splendid combined runs, and the sturdy centre had his reward when he scored a second goal with a lightning shot. The visitors' forwards lay well up the field, and tried to rush the backs for all they were worth, but Hogg and Allan played quite as sturdily as their opponents, and M'Wattie was seldom troubled. The referee whistled for the players not to leave the field at half-time, but while the Hearts obeyed his mandate, Cowdenbeath retired to their dressing room, no doubt with the intention of devising some new plan of campaign. They resumed with more spirit, and made several dangerous raids towards M'Wattie, but their finishing was poor, though on one occasion W. Mercer narrowly missed. The Hearts then took up the running, and Pringle, in trying to clear when hard pressed, kicked through his own goal. Shortly afterwards A. Mercer, the visitors' left half, had the misfortune to break his leg while trying to block the ball at Key's feet. It was a very simple but sad affair, and completely removed all the remaining interest in the game, which ruled entirely in the Hearts' favour, though there was no further scoring.

The Fifers would doubtless be solaced for their defeat by their share in the gate, which realised the splendid sum of £180, exclusive of the stands. They have a splendid goalkeeper in Phillips, who played a magnificent game, and is already stated is much improved from last year. Both backs were good, but the halves were only moderate. Murphy was the weakest of the trio, and was quite pumped out before the end of the first half. Forward, the two wing players, W. Mercer and M'Aughey, were the most conspicuous.

The Hearts' display must have been very reassuring to their supporters, in view of next Saturday's match with the Third Lanark. If only Bell and Houston would come a little they would take an immensity of beating. The defence was very strong, and Thomson, Walker, and Porteous could scarcely have been improved upon. Teams:—

Hearts — M'Wattie; J. Hogg, Allan; Key, Buick, G. Hogg; Porteous, R. Walker, Thomson, Houston, Bell.

Cowdenbeath — Phillips; T. Drummond, Nisbet; Murphy, Pringle, A. Mercer; M'Aughey, M'Cusken, G. Drummond, Horne, W. Mercer.

Referee — Mr King, Glasgow.