CUP FINAL SPECIAL
WEDNESDAY 2nd APRIL, 2008 U14 STAR TROPHY FINAL SAUGHTON ENCLOSURE, 6.30PM
DUNEDIN BC	3	1	AC OXGANGS
'1   Rintoul '13 Rintoul '56 Ferguson			'9 Pia

Dunedin Boys Club secured the first youth trophy of the season with a 3-1 win over AC Oxgangs in the Star Trophy Final. After dominating much of the first half they had to withstand a lot of pressure from AC in the second 35 and the Oxgangs side will be disappointed not to have converted at least one of the many chances they had.

But in wee Dylan Rintoul they had that little bit extra guile and it was his first half double that set Dunedin on their way to glory, before a fine header from Ryan Ferguson sealed the victory with 14 minutes remaining..

A large crowd had turned up at Saughton Enclosure to cheer on both sides and it was the Dunedin supporters that were celebrating within a minute of the kick-off. Indeed just 20 seconds had gone when Jordan Currie was sent clear on goal only to run out of space before he could get a shot in. But AC didn't heed that warning and seconds later Dunedin were in again and this time they made no mistake.

Dylan Rintoul was the player to find himself clear and as the AC defence desperately tried to block his shot he coolly slotted the ball home to put his side 1-0 ahead.

Dunedin were having all of the possession with Oxgangs looking the more tense of the two sides. And Dunedin were probing away at every opportunity especially down the left hand side where Callum Mein was seeing lots of the ball.

But, against the run of play, AC Oxgangs suddenly got an equaliser. Dunedin were sloppy in midfield where the ball was won by Matthew Horseman. He fed it forward into Tommy Pia and he made no mistake as he slammed the ball past the advancing Dunedin goalkeeper, Keiran Davidson.

But that excursion up the field was all too rare for AC and it was Dunedin who continued to press. Dylan Rintoul, Jordan Currie and Callum Mein were giving the AC rearguard all sorts of problems and on 13 minutes Dunedin regained the advantage.

A poor goal kick by the otherwise excellent AC Oxgangs number one, Craig Bremner, fell at the feet of Jordan Currie midway inside the Oxgangs half and he played the ball over the top of the defence for Dylan Rintoul to run onto and cleverly lob it over Bremner and into the empty net.

Dunedin then threatened to run away with this final as they pounded the AC Oxgangs goal.

First of all Callum Mein thumped a shot off the bar from 18 yards after AC only partially cleared their lines and then Ryan Ferguson brought out a magnificent save from Craig Bremner after Dylan Rintoul had broken free on the left and played the Dunedin player in on goal.

And then, as half time approached, Rintoul almost snatched a first half hat-trick but his chipped shot just drifted over the bar from the edge of the box.

Half Time 2-1

Dunedin really should have been out of sight but the half time break gave AC Oxgangs a chance to re-group and they took the game to Dunedin as the match re-started. They were well on top in the opening exchanges without creating any real chances and it was Dunedin that almost scored in a fine break up the park.

Once again it was Jordan Currie and Dylan Rintoul in the thick of things and they played a lovely 1-2 inside the AC box before the latter brought out another fine save from Craig Bremner in the AC goal from 8 yards out.

But that foray was all too rare as AC Oxgangs continued to press and they had their best chance of the match on 46 minutes when big Michael Paterson found himself with just the goalkeeper to beat after some fine work on the right. It looked like it would be the equaliser but Dunedin stopper, Keiran Davidson was out quickly and saved well with his feet to turn the ball away for a corner.

On 56 minutes Dunedin put this game out of AC's reach. Callum Mein floated in a terrific free kick from the left and Ryan Ferguson rose above the AC Oxgangs defence to power home a header at the back post.

But back AC Oxgangs came and Ewan McDougall had two great chances to score as the minutes ticked away. Both were identical with the ball being played in from the right hand side but he screwed his shots wide of the left hand post on both occasions.

And then, with darkness almost setting in, Rhys Jack flicked on a cross by Matthew Horseman but could only watch in agony as it drifted wide of the left hand post.

The game was played in an excellent spirit but it was Dunedin that deservedly won the game and captain Keiran Davidson proudly lifted the trophy aloft to the delight of the hundreds of Dunedin supporters.