Fri 01 Jan 1892 Hearts 6 London Casuals 3

The famous London Combination had the distinguished honour of opening the ground of the Scottish Cup holders at Tynecastle for the season of 1892.

A large crowd turned out to witness the contest, an unusually numerous company of ladies present.

The Casuals were represented by their strongest eleven, but the ground team were minus Fairbairn, their custodian, and Russell’s leg troubled him so much in the first period that he was of very little use to his team.

He was persuaded to remain in the pavilion in the second half, but as R. Topham, the visitor’s centre forward, badly ruptured himself in the first half, both representations played ten men.

In the first portion the game was most stubbornly contested, the teams being level at the interval, but on crossing over the Heart of Midlothian players held the upper hand completely, and eventually retired victorious by six goals to three.

The Casuals created some excitement to opening the scoring early in the game, after some smart forward play, but the Cup holders, mainly through the efforts of Taylor, soon placed themselves on a level footing with their opponents.

Scarcely had the game been resumed when R. Topham again gave the visitors the lead with a very swift shot.

In less time than it takes to describe, Scott and Fairbairn rushed off towards Blaker’s charge, and the former had the satisfaction of once more equalising matters.

Both teams notched again before half time, at which point the scores stood at three goals each.

With ten a-side, the teams started the second period and although the visitors were the first to assert themselves, they were easily checkmated by Adams, who was in great form.

The home team for a lengthy period besieged the London goal, but so safe was the defensive play of Harrison and Pelly that scoring seemed out of the question.

After many unsuccessful attempts, the Cup holders at last got in the lead, the ball being scrimmaged past Blaker after a well-placed corner kick.

The visitors seemed now to fall away completely, and the Tynecastle players soon augmented their hold to six.

Towards the close the Casuals came away strongly, but they could not reduce the lead of their opponents.

Heart of Midlothian – Fraser; Adams, and Goodfellow; Begbie, Waterston, and Hill; Taylor, Fairbairn, Russell, Scott, and Baird.

Linesman – Mr. Tom Purdie.

Casuals – Blaker; Harrison, and Pelly; Baker, A.G.

Topham, and Polehampton; Knox, Simpkins, R.Topham, Plumptre, and Cox.

Linesman – Mr. F. G. Guggenberg.

Referee – Mr. Frank Watt, East of Scotland Football Association.”

Page 10, The Scotsman, Saturday, January 2, 1892 (Issue No 15,132)