A quite extraordinary good cup final took place in front of a big crowd of spectators at the lovely main pitch at the Civil Service Sports Ground – and it was two brilliant under-12 sides that achieved the extraordinary feat of being applauded off the pitch at the finish of a game that can only be adequately described as being of ‘total football’!

From beginning to end of the East Region Development Under-12 League’s Capital Embroidery Cup Final between Civil Service Strollers A and Tynecastle FC, the passing and movement of the players on the pitch produced spontaneous applause from the big crowd on both touchlines at this lovely sports ground. Everything anyone could possibly want to see from a positive aspect in football in Scotland was on show in this game and, most incredibly, it was young Scottish kids that served up this wonderful treat for real football fans! The final scoreline was 5-3 in favour of Civil Service Strollers A, but the result in many ways, was unimportant. It was the high standard of football skills that was on show from these kids that amazed everyone.

The big pitch at the CSS ground in Muirhouse looked as if it would sap the energy of the two teams, but these well trained and superbly coached kids were swarming all over the lovely playing surface right up to the final whistle. CSS went in to a 1-0 lead in the 6^th minute of a game that also featured an excellent set of match officials in referee, Peter Rowan, and his two assistants – Alan Downie and Per Gerding. Alex Harris it was who set the standard of what was to follow when he finished off a great move with a wonderful shot past Tynecastle goalie, Michael Ross, to give his side an early boost. After exceptional play from both sides, with action galore in both goalmouths, Tynecastle got back on level terms in the 22^nd minute, their goal coming from a cross from the left that was brilliantly put away by Lewis Crosbie. And it was the Tynie outfit that went in to a 2-1 lead before the break when Crosbie scored his second goal of the game, following a lovely cut-back from Callum Paterson on the right.

But the game swung back in favour of CSS at the start of what proved to be a stunning second half when Daniel Handling came back on after treatment for a knock. It was the pace and skill of this tremendous young prospect of a striker that Tynecastle too  hot to handle – but not until after the boys in maroon had gone 3-1 ahead with another superb goal from Calum Paterson that left CSS keeper, Lyle Sloan, helpless. It was after that goal that Handling took centre stage in the game! The CSS youngster – who picked up the ‘player-of-the-game award’ from sponsors Andrew MacDonald Design (Builders, Joiners and Plasterers) based at The Steils in Edinburgh - when he raced on to glorious through pass from Shaun Ford to get a foot to the ball to guide it into the Tynecastle net to make it 3-2.

Ross Brady had two great efforts at the Tynecastle goal, before Handling struck again, coming in from the wing at tremendous pace to finish off brilliantly. CSS really had the ‘bit between their teeth’ after that and they went looking for more goals and it was from another of the quick breaks from the CSS attack that gave Callum Donnelly the chance to use his speed to put his side 4-3 ahead with a great goal that left Tynecastle goalkeeper, Michael Ross, with no chance of stopping. Almost inevitably, it was Handling who had the final say in this wonderful game of football, completing his hat-trick before the finish to make the final score 5-3 in favour of Civil Service Strollers A.

It was to the lasting credit of boys teams and their respective coaches that a game of this quality from two under-12 sides produced such an exciting and enjoyable final. It was a real eye-opener of a game and to make it even significant it came from young Scottish footballers!  However, the coach of this exceptional young CSS outfit, Malcolm Berry, fears for the future of his talented squad and he expressed his thoughts, saying: “Hopefully we can keep the majority of the boys together, but we could lose 10 from our 15 players to senior clubs. I gave a wee speech to the boys and the parents regarding my thoughts on Initiative Football, but only time will tell!”

Civil Service Strollers A – Lyle Sloan, Chris Deignon, Marcus Brown, Mark Jeffreys, Shaun Ford, Todd Smith, Blair Hunter, Craig Newall, Ross Brady, Callum Donnelly, Scott Gray, Alex Harris, Daniel Handling, Conor Berry, Blair Henderson.

Tynecastle FC – Michael Ross, Taylor Aitchison, Lewis Crosbie, Jamie Forsyth, Joesph Greig, Thomas Kidd, Fergus Lockhart, Mark McConnell, Daryll McLaren, Ross McNaughton, Callum Peterson, Euan Rodgers, Craig Sutherland, Dylan Yardley.

Referee – Peter Rowan.