ALL the most positive aspects of under-19 youth club football came to the fore in the David Murray Cup final between Hutchison Vale and Star ‘A’ at New Victoria Park in Newtongrange. Both squads were a great example of two teams wanting to play great competitive football with passion, commitment allied with good sporting behaviour. The fact that all the best things about youth club football were on display in a final could not have come at a better time to boost the image of the game in a season when 17 games have had to be abandoned over all ages in the Eastern Region Youth FA.

But local under-19 outfit, Star ‘A’ and Hutchison Vale proved without any doubt that they can produce the goods when it matters and these two teams certainly did that at the home of Newtongrange Star FC. In fact, the football played by Hutchison Vale in the second half of the David Murray Cup final was the best I can remember in this age group throughout all the years I have covered games. Their football in the second half was nothing short of brilliant and it set them up to lift their third piece of silverware of the current season in a 3.-0 triumph.

Star ‘A’ contributed to a great final, however, with their first-half performance deserving of a goal at the very least. The fact that the team from the Newtongrange area did not manage to get some reward for all their good play was down to the quality of the Hutchison Vale defenders. But the class of the players representing this famous Edinburgh youth football club was matched throughout their ranks and it was on display for all to see in a glorious second half of football at its very best in this age group. The hard-working, competitive and sportsmanlike Star ‘A’ outfit could not cope with the Vale attack once they made the breakthrough and it all came about when Vale put on Kyle Hay at the start of the second period. This midfield powerhouse was in magnificent form and he was in the forefront of most of the sweeping passing moves that produced three goals.

Five minutes after excellent match referee, Malcolm Stewart, set the second half in motion, Vale went 1-0 with Patrick Bonthrone’s glancing header from a great cross from the left wing smashing past Star ‘A’ goalkeeper, Bruce Paxton for the first goal of this brilliant final. The quality of both teams up till that breakthrough was very much in evidence but Vale lifted their game to new heights and added another goal to go 2.-0 in front when Paxton, under pressure, spilled an inswinging corner from the left allowing big Douglas Cunnison to blast the ball in to the net from a few yards out.

The passing and movement of the Vale outfit was nothing short of wonderful to watch and it was only the hard work of the Star ‘A’ players that kept the score down. But Vale did get another goal, this time Steve Bell popping up at the back post to head the ball over the line from a lovely flighted ball from the left side of the 18yd box delivered by Kyle Hay. In a rare break out from goal, Star ‘A’ almost did get a reward for their hard work, but after a surging run down the right, Gary Bennett saw his tremendous strike flash over the top of the Vale crossbar. At the other end, it took a great tip over by Paxton to deny Vale a fourth goal. Paxton also used his legs on another occasion to block a net-bound shot from Bonthrone in yet another all-out attack on the Star ‘A’ goal.

This game at the lovely Newtongrange Star base was one that helped boost the battered image of the game in this age group, particularly following Vale’s last cup final success against Leith Athletic at Ferguson Park in Rosewell, when the Leith outfit had four players red carded along with one of the team coaches. But, thankfully, the David Murray Cup final was a magnificent advert in all aspects for the game at this level and all the credit for that must go to Star ‘A’ and Hutchison Vale. Alan Lucas, one of the Vale coaching team on the sidelines, enthused at the closing ceremony, saying: “That was an example of how football should really be played!” It was, indeed! Lucas added: “I could not pick out any one star in that display,” but he could have taken his pick from any of the following players:

Star ‘A’ – Bruce Paxton, Steven Dyett, Gary Whitehead, Allan Cleary, William Kidd, Craig Gow, Kevin Morrison, Kevin Smith, Gary Bennett, Douglas Evans, David McArthur, John Kerr, Graeme Herriot, Kieran Gordon, Ryan Curran.

Hutchison Vale – Kevin Kesson, Steven Bell, Douglas Cunnison, Neil Dewar, Kyle Hay, Christopher Heeps, Jay Hunter, Robbie Jamieson, Peter Keenan, Myles Seaton, Dean Thornhill, Tom Waters, Darren Wilson, Reese Allan, Patrick Bonthrone, Jay Nicholson.

Referee – Malcolm Stewart; assistants – Tom Wallace and Steve Cochrane.