LEITH Athletic under-21s were celebrating a hat-trick of cup wins this season when beating Penicuik FC 1-0 in the Willie Johnstone Cup final at Ferguson Park in Rosewell, but what a struggle this was for the Leith outfit.

Penicuik, from a lower division than their Leith opponents, played brilliantly but their chances of creating a shock win disappeared early in the second half when excellent match referee, Gary Mooney, sent off a Penicuik player for a second yellow. In the opening stages of the game, Mr Mooney, showed a couple of yellow cards for mistimed tackles as the Midlothian side got in about the Leith players. Penicuik also got the break of the ball on several other occasions when Leith created good chances to break the deadlock.

The ball was pumped up and down the pitch at Whitehill Welfare’s pitch in what was a real knock-a-bout final. Penicuik keeper, Gary Christopher was the busiest player on the field as Leith went close to scoring time and time again – without success! With the sides locked at 0-0 at the half-way stage and Penicuik having the advantage of the swirling wind at Rosewell, they must have fancied their chances in the second half. Certainly, they matched Leith in every area of the park but Athletic missed another wonderful chance to go in front, with the ball being cleared off the Penicuik goal-line from one of many, many corners. Then Euan Campbell went down in the Penicuik box but the well-placed match official waved away claims for a penalty. That was followed up by the incident which ended with a player being sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Penicuik a man short.

And still the siege by the Leith outfit continued, with Martin McAuley going close to breaking the deadlock. The Penicuik rearguard refused to buckle under the onslaught and their lightweight forwards looked good on rare breaks that relieved the pressure. But there was no respite for the overworked Penicuik players as the game appeared to be heading for extra time in the gathering gloom of a typical Scottish summer night.

Then, to the horror of the Penicuik contingent, Leith Athletic No 14, Steve Radzynski, pounced on a mistake in the opposition defence to let fly with a shot that took a deflection on its way to the back of the Penicuik net to put Leith 1-0 up. It was possibly correct for Leith to be in front but what a struggle they had against this hard-working and young looking Penicuik combine. In the closing minutes, Euan Campbell saw another great effort brilliantly saved by Christopher while, at the other end of the pitch, Leith goalkeeper, Gary Howie, was a virtual spectator for most of the second half. Leith spokesman, Gerry Freedman, said: “All credit to Penicuik for their hard work, but we should have scored more goals that we did. It was a real struggle! This was our third cup win of the season with the Murphy Cup and the Willie Bauld Trophy our other two successes!”

Leith Athletic – Gary Howie, Martin Wallace, Martin McAuley, Gavin Tainsh, Craig Grieve, Gary Black, Chris Beaton, Kevin Freedman, Martin Laidlaw, Euan Campbell, Kenny Paterson, Mattie Hutchison, Steve Radzynski, Brian Sutherland, Steve Russell, Grant Fairbairn.

Penicuik – Gary Christopher, Greg Paterson, Gary Stenhouse, Nicky Cairns, David Simmons, Chris Grant, Lee Zavaroni, Ryan Mormanus, Mark Ralph, Kris Shillito. Craig Gallacher, Steve Finlayson, Paul Welsh, Callum Leavey, Stuart Milligan.

Referee – Brian Mooney.