MUSSELBURGH U16'S CUP DOUBLE

MUSSELBURGH Windsor under-16s probably did not need a helping hand from their opponents on their way to chalking up a 4-1 in the final of the Steve Maskrey Cup at Olive Bank – but they were given one in the 31st minute when referee Dougie Gordon red-carded one of the Salvesen Boys Club midfielders. Windsor had opened the scoring in the 8th minute –against the run of play – when Cameron Olton smashed an unsavable shot in to the Salvesen net from 20yds out to put Windsor 1-0 ahead!

Salvesen did not deserve to be behind at that stage of this under-16 final and it was the Musselburgh goalkeeper, Steven Greens, who was the busier of the two goalies, bringing off a great save to deny Jamie Lipscombe the equaliser. At the other end, Olton had the ball in the net again after a great cross from Darren Flynn, but the goal was chalked off for offside. With a great game in prospect, it all went ‘pear-shaped for Salvesen when match official Dougie Gordon, produced a straight red card for one of the Edinburgh side’s midfield players and the Musselburgh outfit went on to take control of the game.

Norwich bound Kris Renton put Windsor 2-0 up in the 34th minute with a real opportunist goal, with a great low  ball in to the corner of the Salvesen net. Goalkeeper, Shaun Smith, had no chance with this shot. Windsor kept up the pressure on Smith’s goal with Darylll Curran going close to scoring with a header. Then Smith fumbled another Renton effort with the ball going behind for a fruitless corner. It was still 2-0 at the break, but Salvesen faced a real tough test of character in the second half with only ten players on the field. On the start of the second period, Flynn fired the opening salvo at Smith who showed good hands to clutch the shot. But there was no stopping the Windsor side and Renton made ground up the right before laying off a perfect pass inside for Flynn to sweep  the ball in to the net to put his side 3-0 up.

That was followed by a fantastic sequence of shots in the Salvesen goalmouth with Smith producing save after save to keep the ball out of his net. It was an incredible barrage of shots but Smith produced heroics to stop the ball going in to his net. But the siege continued and Smith, again, showed great skill when he plucked a net-bound Renton piledriver out of the air with apparent ease. Salvesen had cause for celebration when a shot from Paul Coleman took a deflection and Scott Mackintosh managed to get a foot to the ball to beat Greens in the Windsor goal to make it 3-1. Chris Sellar then fired a shot wide of the Windsor goal from a good position.

The play switched back to the other end and Flynn had the ball in the net after a fierce challenge on Smith, but that goal was disallowed by the referee. With the Salvesen goal again under fire again, an attempt on goal was partially cleared and the ball landed perfectly for the waiting Flynn on the 18yd line to power another low shot past Smith to take the margin to 4-1 in Windsor’s favour. With signs of frustration creeping in, Coleman was lucky to stay on the pitch after following through with a high tackle on Michael Fruish. Salvesen created another chance to score when Chris Milligan was given the chance to find the back of the net but his shot went wide of the target.

On a brilliant summer’s night, the big contingent of fans from Musselburgh gave the Windsor side a reception fit for heroes when skipper Paul McLean, another young player heading for Norwich City FC, was presented with the cup! Salvesen had to be content with the runner’s up prizes once again. Any chance they had of lifting the silverware disappeared when they were reduced to ten players on the pitch. In the circumstances, they did well to keep the score down to 4-1! While goalscorers get all the credit in games, this final was marked by superb performances by Keir Anderson and Blair Mongomery in the centre of the Musselburgh Windsor defence.

Musselburgh Windsor – Steven Greens, Michael Fruish, Mark Moncrieff, Danny Taylor, Keith Anderson, Paul McLean, Peter Finlay, Cameron Olton, Darren Flynn, Daryll Curran, Kris Renton, Blair Montgomery, Lewis Mein, Nathan Moncrieff, Paul McGeehan, Chris Smith, Dale Murray, Ewan Skinner.

Salvesen Boys Club – Shaun Smith, Michael Valentine, Colin Curnyn, Sean Lally, Scott Mackintosh, Christopher Sellar, Chris Milligan, Paul Coleman, Jordan Lauden, Jamie Lipscombe, Craig Nisbet, Bradley Carnie, Gary Ward.

Referee – Dougie Gordon.

MUSSELBURGH Windsor U-16’s side won their second trophy of the season when beating Salvesen Boys Club 4-1 in the final of the Jackie Faichney Memorial Cup at Olive bank Stadium,writes SCOTT ROBERTSON.

On one of the hottest days of the year, in front of a larger than expected crowd, on a freshly cut and immaculate playing surface, Windsor romped home to lift their second piece of silverware for the season. Musselburgh opened the scoring through Chris Smith following some determined play by stand-in striker Daryl Curran. Curran was sharp to close down a Salvesen defender and catch him in possession of the ball before releasing Smith to his right. Smith drilled an early shot passed Salvesen keeper Sean Smith to open the scoring.

The Honest Toun players continued to press and saw the ball hit the back of the net when Curran again turned provider, this time for midfielder Michael Fruish who had made a long supporting run and gathered a flick-on. Fruish dispatched his shot into the bottom right-hand corner to give the home crowd plenty cheer about. Salvesen rallied to the cause, much to their credit and were worthy of their goal when a cross was supplied from the left wing and comfortably nodded home by one of the smallest men on the park.

The half-time break was a welcome opportunity for both teams to refresh and take on board some fluid following their efforts in baking temperatures. The second period saw Musselburgh dominate the game with the management staff taking full advantage of their substitutions to relieve tired legs and bring fresh eagerness to the side throughout the half. Substitute Darren Flynn added to Musselburgh’s tally when with his back to goal, collected a midfield pass, his initial touch took the ball to head height, allowing him to pivot before unleashing a scorching shot that the keeper simply could not hold. It was power-packed effort that was blazing a trail to the top let hand corner and the agile Smith did well to get near it at all.

The scoring and Cup was wrapped up nicely when the industrious Daryl Curran forged down the right flank to then feed the supporting Cameron Olton  who with a aplomb held his pass before laying in a perfectly weighted return pass eliminating the Salvesen left-back for Curran to step onto and drill the ball home. The Musselburgh Windsor players celebrated in a traditional huddle as the jumped and sang with joy. Man of the match was Windsor’s Captain Paul McLean after a flawless display at the centre of the Musselburgh defence.”