■Louis Hart pulls one back for Spartans to set up a great finish to the final

Table topping Edinburgh City Colts survived a storming second half comeback from Spartans to hold on and win the Division 3 League Cup.

City were totally dominant in the opening 50 minutes of this match but Spartans slowly started to edge ever closer and with 15 minutes left to play they ensured the Colts' nerves would be tested when they reduced the deficit to just one goal.

But Edinburgh City held on to take the trophy in front of a large crowd at the atmospheric Gyle Recreation Ground.

A lot has been said about the location for this game over the past few weeks. But whatever the political aspects there is no doubt it is a finer venue than either of Paties Road and Saughton Enclosure in terms of creating an atmosphere for the players. Indeed with a bit of investment from either council or lottery it could become an excellent venue with permanent pitch surround and changing facilities closer to the ground.

At the very least the "owners" of the facility should be provided with a lawn-mower so they don't have to rely on the council rota system before the grass is cut to a sensible level. That was the only downside to this great evening of football for the boys who had to play in grass that was several inches long in some areas of the pitch.

And so to the football. My notes register the first Spartans shot on goal in 52 minutes. The page margin was a sea of "ECC" as the boys in yellow marauded all over their opponents in every area of the pitch. But as so often happens in cup finals the nerves kick in as the clock ticks on and it was Spartans that took this game to the wire with even the big, reliable City captain Ciaran McGuire's game going to pot in the final few minutes!

And yet everything started so well for the favourites when they took the lead after just 7 minutes. Jordan Lock was the scorer curling a lovely side footed shot into the right hand corner of the net from 10 yards out.

That goal settled City down and they went in search of a second. On 20 minutes Chris Graham hooked a terrific right footed volley just inches over from the edge of the box and 5 minutes later Jordan Lock almost grabbed a second as he jinked his way into the box from the right wing past 3 defenders before running out of steam and his shot was gathered at the second attempt by Spartans goalkeeper, Michael Cameron.

Spartans were toiling to keep City at bay during this period. Second to most balls in midfield and anything they could muster was coming up the right but the Colts' back four were always in total command with Chris Marshall outstanding. At the other end Spartans were clearing balls desperately from the danger areas as Edinburgh City pressed, harried and probed. And 5 minutes before half time they scored a deserved second goal.

Chris Graham chased and beat Michael Cameron to a loose ball on the wide left, took it around the Spartans goalkeeper and calmly shot into the empty net from an acute angle much to the delight of the large City support.

Half Time 2-0

Edinburgh City started the second half the same way. Camped in the Spartans half. They almost stretched their lead a minute after the restart when Ciaran McGuire curled in a brilliant inswinging corner that bounced through the six yard box and away to safety with no takers on hand.

Then Jordan Lock, who had switched to the left wing, turned his marker and sent in a terrific cross that  David Hutchison glanced just past the right hand post with his head.

And then suddenly Spartans sprang to life. They had switched their formation to just three at the back and the trio of Jack Mathieson, Jack McLuckie and Sean Christie went on to have excellent final half hours with McLuckie in particular standing out. That made them more competitive in midfield and with Rory McLean and Paul Crolla roaming about up front City finally had something to worry about.

They had two excellent chances in the space of a minute. Firstly a long ball was flicked on by McLean into the path of Crolla who brought out a magnificent save from City keeper Adam Moore as he bore down on goal. And then Rory McLean had an opportunity himself as he found space in the left of the box but Moore again saved the goalbound shot, this time with his feet.

The Spartans supporters and players finally had something to shout about and you could sense this game starting to turn as their players grew in confidence. Just as the opposite started to take hold in the City camp.

And yet Colts' had another great chance on the hour to kill this game when a Chris Graham header was played back across a crowded goalmouth where Matthew Gaunt smashed a shot from 5 yards that Michael Cameron somehow stopped from rippling the net.

On 65 minutes Spartans got the goal that their second half play warranted. Louis Hart was the player to find the net as he picked up a long ball played in behind the City defence on the wide right before cutting inside and finishing with a tremendous low shot that nestled in the far left hand corner of the net.

The final frantic 15 minutes of this game was more a tussle of nerves than anything else. Spartans tried in vain to create the clear cut chance that would take this game into extra-time and it was City that held on to take the trophy in an eagerly but fairly contested match.