Possibly it was the high-standard of football that gave Leith coach, Mark Paterson, the most pleasure. After the presentation of the trophy to his jubilant squad, he said: “We played all the football in this game and we deserved to win. We were in control once we opened the scoring. I am very pleased at the way we played and I am also delighted to have won the league title for our club!” It was a very good night at Saughton Enclosure for the fans of Leith Athletic and a somewhat bewildering experience for Hutchison Vale supporters to see their team struggle to get their game going once again, after crashing to a spectacular 7-1 defeat to Edina Hibs in the Eastern Region Cup final at Hallhill at the weekend.

The collapse in form by this very good team who have won three cups this season is a real puzzle, but one of the Vale club coaches commented: “We have played too many games and the players are ‘running on empty! They are played out!” Vale still picked up a plaque as winners of their section in this good age group, but it was Leith Athletic who were really celebrating a great success in lifting the under-17 league title. Frankly, they fully deserved their moment of glory. The quality of play throughout the game had Vale defending desperately at times and, in truth, the Leith outfit should have scored more goals.

It was, possibly, a sign of the tiredness in the Vale players when Douglas Cunnison missed from the penalty spot in the 2^nd minute of the game, after top-class match official Michael Banks had awarded a spotl-kick for hand ball in the Leith goalmouth. Vale had a good spell after that miss,  however, with Dean Thornhill sending over a great cross for Kyle Anderson to head wide of the target. However, it was at the other end of the pitch at the Enclosure where the first goal of the game came from and it was another penalty this time stuck away in off the keeper’s right-hand post by Leith skipper, Jamie Paterson, in the 23^rd minute. That proved to be the only goal of an excellent first-half display from Leith, while Vale struggled to get their game going. In the circumstances, they were possibly glad to be trailing by only one goal at the break. Shortly before the break, it took a wonder save from Leith keeper, Jamie Bennett to stop Vale from equalising. On the start of the second half, the good passing and movement from the Leith side continued after the break and they went in to a 2-0 lead in the 57^th minute.

Kesson, in the Vale could not hold an inswinging free-kick from Mark Ellis and when the ball rebounded out of his hands, it eventually fell in to the path of Leith’s Steve Manson, who sent the most delightful chip shot over the Vale defence in to the back of the net. It was a brilliantly taken goal! Prior to that, however, Reece Allan, brought out the best from the Leith keeper, who pulled off a fantastic save when launching himself to his left to beat away a net-bound header from the Vale player following a great free kick from Tom Waters. But Leith were stunned when Cunnison pounced on a loose ball to the left of their goal to fire a shot into the back of the net at the near post to make it 2-1.

The Leith defenders were guilty of ball watching in this goalmouth incident. That goal lifted the tired looking Vale players and they had another good wee spell of play, but Bennett in the Leith goal was not really troubled. At the other end, marvellous play on the right from Keith Harper ended with a quite superb pass in front of the Vale goal to the inrushing Jim Young, who held his head in disbelief when his shot from about 2yds out shot up and hit the crossbar. However, just before Young set himself up to knock the ball in to the Vale net, it bobbled on an uneven piece of turf. It was still a very bad miss to those watching from the sidelines. In the closing minutes Leith did get a third goal,

David Smart showing admirable control when he ran on to ball through the Vale defence to home in on goal and, with Kesson coming off his line to block him, Stewart outwitted the Vale keeper when slipping the ball in to the corner of the net to make it 3-1. There was still time for Young to set up Paul Devlin to score again, but Kesson was alert to the danger and he brought off a good save. In the last seconds of the game, Allan again tested Bennett in the Leith goal, but the final scoreline of 3-1 was enough to give Leith the title. They were the better side in this game.

Leith Athletic – Jamie Bennett, Scott Wallace, Gareth Thom, Jamie Paterson, Jim Young, Steve Manson, Paul Devlin, David Smart, Mark Ellis, Keith Harper, Steve Sproule, Craig Stewart, Dean Philips, Gary Muir.

Hutchison Vale – Kevin Kesson, Robbie Jamieson, Kyle Anderson, Douglas Cunnison, Neil Dewar, Jay Nicholson, Chris Heeps, Kyle Hay, Steve Bell, Peter Keenan, Roy Sanderson, Reece Allan, Patrick Bonthrone, Myles Seaton, Dean Thornhill, Tom Waters, Darren Wilson.

Referee – Michael Banks.