HOLYROOD High School booked their place in the final of the Lothian Schools Under-16 League Cup when beating a gallant Forrester High School Uutfit 3-0 in extra time at the sun drenched Pinkie Playing Fields in Musselburgh – with all three Holyrood goal coming from hat-trick hero, Nicholas Young!

The score at the end of normal time in an excellent game of football well refereed by young Calum Bryson, the sides were still locked at 0-0. The lack of goals was the only complaint from those watching the game, however, as both sides played good football and it was the final pass – time after time – from both sides that caused the lack of goals, but there was plenty goalmouth action at both ends of the big and excellent pitch at Pinkie to keep this semi-final boiling away nicely. Holyrood hot-shot, Young, was the first to fire over the Forrester bar from a good position and that miss set the scene for what was to follow, with both goals coming under fire throughout the game.

 Holyrood looked the more dangerous team, but Forrester High School kept plugging away against a very good opposition defence. Neither side gave an inch in the cracking exchanges that made this such an enjoyable game to watch. It was almost inevitable, however, that it would go to extra time with neither side able to stick the ball in the net – but how situation changed in extra time! And it was the Forrester High School defence that eventually cracked under pressure, with Young setting his mark on the game with three superb goals to book his side’s place in the final.

Callum Lyons almost broke the deadlock for Holyrood with a free kick being deflected for a fruitless corner by a Forrester defender while Andy Brand fired over the bar in a raid on the Holyrood goal – then Young went on his goal spree! This quick young player managed to get to a very good pass through the Forrester defence from Keith Kerr to place the ball wide of keeper Dean Cunningham to put Holyrood 1-0 ahead. Young had two more great attempts at the Forrester goal but it was still 1-0 at the half-way stage in extra time.

Brand had another attempt at squaring the game, but his shot was over the bar then a good cross from Robbie Dunn was well cut out by Holyrood keeper, Jamie Newman. With the ball being played freely about the pitch, it was Young who struck again for Holyrood, getting the break of the ball to run in and fire his shot under the body of Cunningham to give his side a match winning 2-0 lead.

Young then missed a chance to score again from a good position but a third goal was only delayed and the Holyrood striker finished the game with his third and final goal shortly before the full-time whistle. This cup semi-final was a very good game of football between two excellent sides and it was also played in a very sportsmanlike manner by both sets of players, well controlled by a good young referee.

Holyrood now await the winners of this Saturday’s other cup semi-final between Musselburgh Grammar School and Armadale, at St Augustine’s Playing Fields, with the kick-off at 9.30am.

Holyrood High School – Jamie Newman, Keith Kerr, Joel Dickie, Tom Mackie, Joss Froude, Aaron Gibb, Jamie McGregor, Callum Lyons, Nicholas Young, Jordan Fisher, Kevin Carter, Danny Loup, Hamla Jaisir.

Forrester High School – Dean Cunningham. Andy Aitken, Colin Curnyn, Scott Weston, David Warnock, Raymond Singleton, Robbie Dunn, David Burns, Andy Brand, Ally Stewart, Matthew McMillan, Paul Taylor.

Referee – Calum Bryson.

*Musselburgh Grammar School beat Firrhill 2-1 in an important league clash at Colinton Mains to set up an under-16 Lothian Schools FA  title play-off against Newbattle