IN a brilliant finish to the Eastern Region Youth FA under-21 season, a younger Liberton outfit beat the more fancied and experienced Livingston Hearts 3-1 in a cracking Stuart Brown Memorial Cup final at Ferguson Park in Rosewell.

In many respects, this game between the side from West Lothian who were presented with a differently named Stewart Brown Memorial Trophy for winning the first division title and Liberton, who finished top of division two, was like turning the clock back to good old-fashioned Scottish style football. Both sets of players buzzed about the park, running at opposing defenders with the ball, setting up chances and generally, playing the kind of football that is totally enjoyable to watch. Livingston, in what was their very last game together, kicked off in with a goal in the opening minutes of the game, with David Murray finding the back of the Liberton from a superbly hit free-kick from 22yds out. Liberton keeper, John Harkins, did not see the ball until it was too late and it entered his net low down to his left hand side.

For a while after that opening goal, Livingston looked as if they would go on and score again, with the pace of Kenny Martin in particular causing the Liberton defence a lot of problems. But for all Martin’s hard work in winning balls and sending crosses in to the Liberton goalmouth, his team-mates could not put any of the chances that came their way in to the back of the net. Martin, too, was guilty of shooting high and wide when making space for himself in front of goal. Gradually, this terrific young side from Edinburgh, in their first year in this age group, forced their way back in to contention with quite superb play from John Ross Kerr on the right.

The Livingston goal came under fire time after time with the Liberton goal the scene of more action in what was a terrific first half of good football. The Livingston defence looked very well organised and confident in clearing the ball under pressure and there was plenty of that from the quick passing Liberton players. Their ability to start moves from the back was particularly nice to see, but much of their good play was ruined at times by poor final balls in to the goalmouth. However, it was Ryan Feeney in the Livingston Hearts goal who was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the build-up to the half-time break. In the ninth minute of the second half, Kerr scored the equaliser and it was a goal that had the crowd at Whitehill Welfare’s ground roaring in appreciation.

When the ball came across from the right to the left hand side of the 18yd box, the Liberton striker did not hesitate and he smashed the most glorious volley through a crowd of players in to the Livingston net to make it 1-1. Frankly, after that goal there was only going to be one team that would win the silverware – Liberton!

Most of the players in this squad come from the same area of Edinburgh and their ‘togetherness’ was evident in terms of commitment and workrate as they handed out a football lesson to their older opponents. However, Harkins was in action coming away off his line to clear the danger when Livingston Hearts broke away after the equalising goal.  At the other end of the pitch, Peter Gilhooley saw a shot at goal beaten away by Feeney. With the pressure mounting on the Livingston goal, Kerr notched his second goal of the game with a piledriver from 16yds out following a perfectly weighted pass short pass inside from the right after very good play from Scott McCulloch.

The Liberton No 9 had an indifferent game up until then, but he too went on to show just what a good player he is. With Kerr putting Liberton 2-1 ahead in the 27^th minute, it ensured an even better finish to this great final. Six minutes later, it was 3-1 for Liberton, with Jordan Hall setting up McCulloch to send a brilliant lofted shot over Feeney in to the Livingston net. That goal may have been the last one of the game, but the action continued until the final whistle of a final played in a great spirit and well refereed by big Dougie Gordon. Liberton were deserved winners on the day, but Livingston Hearts put up a great show and, combined, both sides played the type of cup football that is a sheer pleasure to watch. It also marked the end of the season in this age group in the best way possible, with handshakes all round from the players and officials in what must be the most satisfactory end to any season in under-21 youth club football. The abiding memory of this game, however, is the quality of football from both teams.

*The Stuart Brown Memorial Cup is in memory of a former young footballer from Arniston in Midlothian and it was entirely fitting that this year’s final should make this gesture by his family of presenting a trophy in memory of the young player who died in 1999 such a great game to watch. In another award at the presentation the cup and medals, Liberton’s Lee Maloney was named as the Man-of-the-Match to rapturous applause from both teams. It is also fitting for me to mention Liberton’s No 3, Danny McAleavy. If I did not mention this young player’s name, he would never let me forget it! Nice one, Danny!

Liberton – John Harkins, Paul Scales, Danny McAleavy, Lee Maloney, James Reid, Charles McAleavy, Peter Gilhooley, Mark Robertson, Scott McCulloch, Robert Nisbet, Jordan Hall, John Blues, Craig Thomson, Ainslie Hunter, John Ross Kerr.

Livingston Hearts – Ryan Feeney, Michael Farquhar, Allan Macfarlane, Craig Wilson, Stewart Cairns, Kenny Martin, David Murray, Shaun Martin, Graham Baird, Mark Conroy, Joseph Brookhouse, Barrie Bishop, Mark Lawler.

Referee – Dougie Gordon