Nnamdi, Schmidt (Pape), McVeigh, Street, Poutakidis, Leci (Shaw), Bennett, Binns, Pinz, Naidu, Loney.

From the pen (and desk) of David Binns.

On what can only be described as a swelteringly hot day, a 3pm kick off was not desirable for either team. Further ominous signs of what was potentially a tricky fixture were the late withdrawals of Jorg and Esad, and the absence of Aran, following another A & E visit.
 
The 13 Hotspurs blues kicked the ball around in a circle, while their opponents engaged themselves in a full-on warm up. It was only when the lanky Loney piped up that he didn’t want “another 6 fooookin months of list’nin’ to them ‘n’ how they beat us last foooookin year,” did Hotspurs realise that there was a game to be won.
 
Obviously Loney’s lambasting had its desired effect and the Hotspurs were clearly on the front foot from the kick-off. The defence was winning every ball and the midfield quartet was stifling every Hibs opportunity, while Anis and Ally up front appeared to have the freedom of the park.

Anis probably could have had a first half ‘perfect hat-trick’ but was denied by the arms, legs and body of the keeper, and ended up with only a single goal to his name by half-time.

Sam who was lively throughout the game provided the impetus for the second goal of the half, as he marauded (yes Aran…marauded!) into the Hibs’ box before being tumbled over for an obvious penalty.
 
With Andy holding the ball and hovering over the penalty spot, yours truly stepped up, to save Andy’s blushes, and despatched the kick uncompromisingly into the net.
 
Much of the banter before the game had been about Dan B’s lack of finishing. He quipped that he had scored 5 in 3 games in the Mickey Mouse League. Reinforcing his statement and his self-confidence, Dan B pivoted on a sixpence, twisted like Nureyev, and produced an overhead kick reminiscent of Grasshopper, and the ball finally nestled in the corner of the goal. The Dubious Goals Committee is still determining whether it is an own goal or a ‘pinball’ goal – we await the verdict, but for now it goes down as Dan B’s goal of the season.
 
To wrap up a fairly one sided first half, Ally, who ran all day, was harshly adjudged to have been fouled in the box, and we were comically awarded our second penalty.

It was rather like the Two Ronnies, as the linesman and referee conferred on the decision, first giving a free-kick, then a goal kick and finally a penalty. Admittedly, whether right or wrong, the referee was bold enough to acknowledge his mistake and award the spot kick.

After Sam had seen how I despatched my effort, he wasn’t overly confident that the second penalty would find the net. He therefore stepped up and calmly slotted it into the corner. I will take power over grace any time.

4-0 at half time, but it had also taken two great saves from Anthony to keep the Hibs at bay.
 
The second half was far more competitive, and Hibs knew that they had to strike first. The Hotspurs were clearly tiring, with only Richard left on the bench, waiting for someone to keel over before bringing himself on, and Hibs making a number of half-time changes. There were chances for both sides, and from the Hotspurs perspective, Anthony and Chris especially were up to the task of ensuring what is, I think, our first clean sheet of the campaign?
 
Anis rounded things off towards the end. After beating a couple of defenders and having the option to pass to three onrushing Hotspurs players, he opted to dummy the keeper and side-foot home his second of the day.  The goal killed off any hope the Hibs had of getting back into the game; it also rounded off a fantastic performance from Anis, who emphatically takes the Man of the Match award.
 
Thanks to the Hibs for the game, and good luck to them for the rest of the season and their Plate semi-final.