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CUP
FINAL SPECIAL |
SUNDAY
25th MAY, 2008
LOTHIAN BUSES CUP FINAL
GYLE RECREATION GROUND, 6.30PM |
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LEITH ATHLETIC |
5 |
2 |
MUSSELBURGH WINDSOR |
'15
Mair (pen)
'25 Kneeshaw
'46 Kustra
'62 Simpson
'69 Muirhead |
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'27
McConville
'70 MacFarlane |
■Gavin Kneeshaw wheels away to celebrate
putting Leith Athletic 2-0 ahead
Leith Athletic's brilliant young U13
side produced another fine performance to lift the Lothian Buses
Cup at a sunny but cold Gyle Recreation Ground, defeating a
tenacious and strong Musselburgh Windsor team 5-2.
For long periods of this game the side from Musselburgh competed
in every area of the field but they eventually succumbed to the
relentless attacking verve of Leith Athletic who went onto win
handsomely by a 3 goal margin.
Gavin Kneeshaw was outstanding in the middle of the park for
Leith but this side have quality players in every single
position and they deservedly won this match. For Musselburgh
they can now look forward to another final next weekend when
they play Hutchison Vale at Hallhill in the South East Region
Cup.
The game started at a blistering pace with both teams intent on
all out attacking. Musselburgh were clearly wanting to compete
at every opportunity and Leith were finding it difficult to get
any early rhythm going as the boys from Musselburgh snapped at
every loose ball in midfield. Most of the initial play was
played on the Musselburgh touchline with opposing number sixes,
Hne Wilson and Jack Moffat enjoying a great tussle.
It was Windsor that had the first real chance as captain Martin
Innes blasted a shot from 25 yards that flew just past Reece
Smail's right hand top corner.
On 12 minutes Leith were denied what looked like a stonewall
penalty. Wee Brendan Edwards was sent clear and as he poked the
ball past the goalkeeper he went to ground. The referee
indicated that Daniel Laing had got a hand to the ball as he
challenged and play was waved on. Edwards was hurt in the
collision and had to go off for a period.
3 minutes later and this time Ronnie Lauder had no hesitation in
awarding a spot kick as flying winger Hne Wilson was sent
tumbling. Peter Mair stepped up to send goalkeeper Daniel
Laing the wrong way and put Leith ahead 1-0.
It was real end to end stuff with the two teams closely matched.
But Leith are so strong at the back that it was always going to
be difficult for Windsor to break them down. Peter Mair and
Daniel Simpson had another terrific game in the central
defensive positions for the Leith side.
Musselburgh were not to be deterred however and they almost
snatched an equaliser on 17 minutes when a hooked shot by Lee
Edwardson had Reece Smail scrambling back to his goal line to
save just in time.
Up the other end and Keiran Muirhead hit a high looping shot
from the left wing that crashed back off the bar with Daniel
Laing partially unsighted by the low sun.
On 25 minutes, Leith Athletic went two ahead with a terrifically
worked goal. The ball was played up the left where Scott Wilson
beat his marker, passed the ball across the face of the goal
where Gavin Kneeshaw was on hand to sweep the ball into
the bottom right hand corner of the net.
 Back
came Windsor and within 2 minutes they had reduced the deficit
and pulled themselves back into this pulsating final. The ball
was won on the left by Jack Moffat - after some unusually sloppy
defending by Leith - and his centred ball fell into the grateful
path of Ryan McConville who smashed an unstoppable shot
high into the net past stranded Reece Smail.
With half time approaching Musselburgh had a great chance to
make it two each when Jack Moffat was played in by big Robert
MacFarlane, who won a thundering tackle in the middle of the
Leith half, but just as he looked to have slotted it past the
Leith number one, Reece Smail dived to his left to smother the
goalbound shot.
Half Time 2-1
Leith returned to the pitch with the
ever increasing strong easterly "breeze" at their backs as they
looked to close out this final. But Musselburgh were back in
this game and their noisy huddle again showed just how much they
wanted to win.
Within a minute Windsor were again
almost level. Martin Innes sent pacey Lee Edwardson clear in the
left channel but he screwed his shot just wide of the right hand
post and the chance was gone.
Gavin Kneeshaw, who for me was man of
the match, then showed some fantastic skill on the edge of the
Musselburgh box, jinking his way past 3 defenders before
slotting the ball through for Brendan Edwards but Windsor's
Daniel Laing was quick to spot the danger and saved with his
feet before Edwards would get his shot away.
The play continued at a hectic pace
with both sides knowing the value of the next goal and on 40
minutes Musselburgh almost get themselves level. Reece Smail
tried to shield the ball out for a goal kick but Lee Edwardson
chased and harried and won the ball. He played it back into the
centre of the empty goal but Daniel Simpson was first to react
and the danger was cleared.
Leith then went ahead with a killer
third goal out of nothing.
 The
champions were pressing hard when Marc Kustra hit a
speculative shot towards goal. Daniel Laing looked to have it
under control but the ball agonisingly slipped from his grasp
and bounced into the side of the net. The Musselburgh number one
was distraught but urged on by his team- mates, coaches and
family he got his head up and recovered.
Leith had an opportunity to make it
4-1 on 55 minutes when Gavin Kneeshaw side volleyed just inches
over directly from a corner on the right. And then at the other
end Craig Turnbull had a great chance to pull Musselburgh back
into the game when he side footed a chance over from just inside
the box. The goalkeeper was stranded and the goal looked open
but Turnbull had to try and lift it over a defender's head and
he almost pulled it off.
Windsor had another chance on the hour
mark when Jordan Burrows looked certain to score as he honed in
on goal but a wonderful last ditch tackle by Peter Mair ensured
that Leith's lead remained intact.
On 62 minutes Leith put this game
beyond Musselburgh Windsor. Leith were awarded a free kick about
25 yards out on the left hand side and Daniel Simpson
stepped up to curl a wonderful shot high past Daniel Laing and
into the right hand corner of the net. A terrific goal.
With a minute remaining, Leith
Athletic put extra shine on the scoreline. A great move that
involved Hne Wilson, Conway Hunter and Scott Wilson brought out
a brilliant save from Daniel Laing as he sprang to his right to
turn the ball away for a corner. From the resultant kick
Keiran Muirhead re-directed a Hne Wilson shot past Daniel
Laing to make it 5-1.
But Windsor weren't finished yet and
with seconds left they scored a second goal that their play in
this match deserved. Robert MacFarlane clinically
finishing from just inside the box with a shot that gave Reece
Smail no chance.
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