COCKENZIE Star under-19s took on Bonnyrigg Rose in the Royal Edinburgh Cup Final at Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg on Sunday – having already been defeated three times this season by their opponents.

Both teams looked nervous early on, with Cockenzie captain Kai Austin heading against the bar from close range.

With just over 20 minutes gone, Cockenzie’s Ben Taylor released Craig Thomson down the right-hand side; Thomson drove towards goal before cutting inside on to his favoured left foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

But on 35 minutes, a nervous-looking Cockenzie were pegged back when a free-kick was headed in by the hosts.

Some minor formation changes from Cockenzie in the second half seemed to have worked a treat with an early goal from Ross McIntyre, who tapped in following a corner.

This time the goal did settle the Cockenzie boys who, heading towards the hour mark, were enjoying the bulk of possession.

As the game became stretched, Ben Taylor found himself in behind the Bonnyrigg back four and showed great composure to lift the ball over the oncoming keeper to make it 3-1.

The tie looked over but, in the words of their coaches, Cockenzie do not like doing things the easy way.

With 20 minutes left, a seemingly impossible spot from the far side assistant referee awarded a penalty to Bonnyrigg, much to the dismay of the Cockenzie players, especially their keeper Graeme Fowler, who was sent off for his over-vigorous protest.

But much to the delight of the boys in blue, Bonnyrigg missed the ensuing penalty.

So with Cockenzie down to 10 men and no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, they were forced to put one of their outfield players in goal; Jordan Simpson was brave enough to take on that task.

The boys were brilliant for the last 20 minutes of the match and typified the team spirit they have shown so many times this season. Not only did they manage to hold on, but for spells looked like the team with the extra man.

Into injury time, two Cockenzie substitutes linked brilliantly as Brodie Denholm played in Elliot Mannion who showed a great turn of pace to find himself one on one against the Bonnyrigg goalkeeper; he coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net to secure a 4-1 victory.

Coach Steven Thomson said: “The boys showed fantastic character and resilience to hold on and win their third trophy in two years – and celebrated long into the night.”