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Musselburgh Athletic v Glenafton Athletic

1.45pm  18 January 2014

SJFA, Scottish Junior Cup, Fourth Round
Musselburgh Athletic 1 Glenafton Athletic 4 (att 500)

I always enjoy watching junior football in Scotland, and the Junior Cup is the SJFA's blue riband event, so it was an easy choice to head to the only one of the 16 fourth round ties on a ground I'd not been to previously.

Musselburgh and Glenafton are both comfortably mid table in their respective Super Leagues, East Region and West Region, so I expected a tight game.

There was little to choose between the two sides in the first half. An own goal put the hosts in front early on, and they had chances to increase their lead, but a penalty levelled the game after about half an hour.

In the second half Glenafton stepped up a gear and Musselburgh couldn't respond. The visitors scored two fine goals, the first a particularly impressive volley from distance, to put themselves in the driving seat. As Musselburgh pushed forward trying to find a way back into the tie they conceded a fourth.

The scoreline was harsh on the home side, but Glenafton had a decisive edge and deserved their progress to the cup's last 16.

Musselburgh's Olivebank ground was better than I'd expected from the photos I'd seen before visiting. Although it's three sided, with far end is out of bounds to all but the most determined spectators, there's plenty of terracing, cover and some treacherously muddy banking to get a good view even with a large crowd.












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