Dynamo Hibs hosted Bluebird in a top of the table, winner takes all clash. Due to games in hand Dynamo started the game 4th, with Bluebird 2nd, with the winners going top.
The opening of the game was a nervy affair with both teams looking scared to take risks. Bluebird wanted to play the ball out from the back but Dynamo's pressing game meant they had to go long, a tactic that was never going to give them success. Chances were at a minimum, but the game exploded into life on 20 minutes. Bluebird were playing a ridiculously high defensive line and a through ball sent Martyn Murray one on one with the keeper, Murray went for the trademark lob, but the keeper managed to get a touch and the ball rebounded off the post. After 23 minutes Bluebird opened the scoring. The opposition had a good spell for a couple of minutes and Dynamo failed to clear the ball. With play on the right, the ball was layed off, Shaun Davidson got attracted to the ball and his man slipped inside him before slotting home.
Dynamo responded immediately. A through ball was laid off by Alan Parker, and Martyn Murray shot past the keeper to bring the scores level. The rest of the 1st half was tight but Dynamo created a great chance just before half-time when Martyn Murray was sent clear. This time he went for power but blasted it over the bar.
Half-time 1-1.
Dynamo started the 2nd half well and soon began to dominate the game. With their opponents beginning to tire the hard working Dynamo started to create more chances. Martyn Murray turned provider by laying in Alan Parker. Parker could have taken it 1st time on his left but opted to bring it onto his right before poking the ball wide of the goal. With the legs beginning to tire Dynamo looked to the bench and replaced Davidson, McAndrew and Reynolds with Dilworth, Keano and Jeeb.
The changes worked immediately. Robbie Graham, now wearing the captain's armband, set off on a run upfield. He jinked past a few players before sending Jeeb in on goal. Jeeb drove in at goal from the right but looked to have over ran the ball but he somehow managed to slot it home at the near post.
Dynamo smelt blood and went 3-1 up 4 minutes later. Dilworth fed the ball into Murray, he beat a man before closing in on the keeper. Despite his early misses the star striker remained calm and smashed the ball into the roof of the net to the delight of his teammates.
Bluebird started to fall apart and Dynamo replaced Alan Parker with Nathan Moncrieff. Moncrieff, just back from injury, was being used as a striker and soon repaid his manager with a well taken goal. A good move down the right found Murray and he squared the ball to Moncrieff and he slotted home to send Dynamo 4-1 ahead.
Dynamo replaced the outstanding Murray with Geary as they looked to tie up the game.
Geary musn't have been listening to the instructions as he gave away a penalty in the final minute. After a quiet game the Dynamo keeper Cossetini decided to get involved and refused to give the ball to the Bluebird player, after a spot of WWF and a pitch invasion by physio Leon Reynolds the Jungle Book striker stepped up and hit a Lee Niven penalty which Cossetini saved easily.
Deep into injury time a good ball by man of the match Mo sent Jeeb away again. The keeper tried to narrow the angle but Jeeb slotted home at the near post again!
The game ended 5-1 and Dynamo sent out a message to the rest of the league and a rematch in the semi-final of the League Cup in 2 weeks time should be interesting.
