East Lothian Courier | Sport | Grammar top class in league decider

Thursday, 24th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 24th April, 2008 08:20

Grammar top class in league decider

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Musselburgh Grammar 3-2 Newbattle High

MUSSELBURGH Grammar School ran out East and Midlothian Schools’ Under-14s’ League winners after defeating Newbattle High in an enthralling deciding match at Dalkeith Campus.

Coaches had to find a change of venue for the final game when muddy conditions at the Mayfield Complex rendered pitches unplayable.

Relocating to the Dalkeith Campus, the nail-biting encounter got underway but it seemed as those the Midlothian side had failed to turn up in the early stage with Musselburgh controlling much of the game from the outset.

A draw would hand Musselburgh Grammar the title, whilst Newbattle required nothing less than a win.

With barely 3 minutes played, a free-kick deep inside the Musselburgh half was launched forward towards the Newbattle goal. Forward Jack Kennedy pounced on the Newbattle’s keeper’s hesitancy bravely nodded it past the stricken goalie, Stephen Fraser, who collided with his near post.

Fortunately Fraser recovered from the knock but was to pick the ball out of his net on two more occasions.

With ten minutes to half-time, the county side won a corner which was lashed in to the top corner of the net by Jack Kennedy for his second.

After the break Musselburgh increased their lead. A foul 25 yards outside the Newbattle goal gave Musselburgh’s Chris Jamieson a chance to put them three-up and he did not disappoint, thundering the ball into the roof the Midlothian net with unstoppable shot.

Now with a three goal cushion and Newbattle needing no less than four goals, it was a mountain to climb.

Newbattle looked strangely listless and lacking in ideas, although the very hard working Callum Gilzean did his best to stem the tide.

But they continued to make it hard for themselves and their long-ball tactics were easily dealt with by the Musselburgh defence.

With the result looking in the bag, Newbattle started to play and in one excellent move – involving Gilzean and Chris Kirkwood – the ball was played in for Ryan Sommerville to stick beyond stand-in keeper, Taylor Sugden, to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

And just minutes from time Musselburgh looked home and dry until Newbattle scored their second from Andrew Henderson with a brilliant lob over Sugden.

In a last bid for glory, Newbattle were awarded a free kick 25 yards out from the Musselburgh goal mouth.

But it all ended in crushing disappointment for the Midlothian contingent when Gilzean’s shot failed to trouble the Musselburgh goalie.

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