EDINBURGH City Colts beat Musselburgh Windsor 8-7 in a ‘sudden-death’ penalty decider to win the under-13 Tom Welsh Cup at Saughton Enclosure.

This final was the first of a double-header at the Enclosure and neither of the two teams involved managed to score a goal in a game that went to extra time. Edinburgh City created more chances than their opponents from East Lothian, but both defences were successful in keeping the other side out.

Extra time was an even more tense time for both camps, with Musselburgh Windsor Colts keeper, Tom Young, in extra time under-lining his potential when producing an exceptional save when he dived low down to his left to divert a net-bound shot away for a corner. This good young goalie had also denied Edinburgh City Colts the opener in ordinary time with a wonderful save from Blair Fergus.

The honesty and endeavour of these young players was wonderful to watch and good efforts at goal at both ends of the pitch was rewarded with spontaneous applause from the appreciative crowd on the grass terracing. The big pitch was a further test for the players and some of them were out on their feet when the spot-kick finale arrived to put further pressure on the players in both teams elected to take penalties.

In the event, to make it more exciting and cause even more anguish among the mums and dads of players on the  pitch, it went to the ‘sudden-death’ stage and, inevitably, someone failed to covert one of the deciding spot kicks, causing tears for the young player unfortunate enough to be the one who missed. In the event, it was Edinburgh City Colts that emerged the winners, while Musselburgh Windsor Colts took the runners-up prizes on the night.

Scorers for the winners were, in sequence of the goals scored, Arran Coutts, Sean Hay, Sam Donald, Dale Purdie, Ryan Ma, Andrew Laing, Scott Jarvie and Liam O’Rourke. On the mark for the unfortunate losers were, Ben Stobart, Darren Milne, Donald Motion, Bruce Morrison, Chris McDougall, Lewis Brown and Craig Downing. A total of 18 penalties were taken, with Edinburgh City Colts missing one of these, while Musselburgh Windsor Colts missed two spot-kicks.

I have no intention, whatever, of naming the boys who were made to suffer in this way. Frankly, I do not not know or understand why young teams cannot share a trophy any more. Both teams deserved to share the spoils without going to spot-kicks. I wonder who decided that as a suitable way to decide the winners in a kids football game? Another of the many ‘self-important’ adults who are destroying the enjoyment of the game in Scotland, I suppose!

Edinburgh City Colts – Andrew Laing, Jamie Henderson, Sean Hay, Scott Jarvie, Marc McKeating, Sam Donald, Dale Purdie, Blair Fergus, Michael Osborne, Alan Reid, Jack Mathieson, Arran Coutts, Arran Gosman, Andrew King, Ryan Ma, Liam O’Rourke.

Musselburgh Windsor Colts – Tom Young, Bruce Morrison, Ben Stobart, Chris McDougall, Donald Motion, Alex Borthwick, Darren Milne, Lewis Brown, Kyle Burrows, Liam Sibbald, Rory Walker, Ryan Morham, Colin Hall, Ian Sinclair, Craig Downing, Martin Jamieson.

Referee – Kevin Head.