THE sun shone on Musselburgh Athletic’s Olive Bank home on May 12, where Musselburgh Windsor and Musselburgh Youngstars contested a local derby in the David Murray Under-19s Cup final.

Both teams had chances to go in at half-time ahead but the deadlock could not be broken. On the balance of play and chances it was Windsor who were left more frustrated with the 0-0 half-time score.

Straight from the start of the second half, Windsor increased the pressure on the Youngstars goal and were rewarded when Jay Murray played a quality pass through the Youngstars defence for Khaz Mdalansi to slot the ball into the back of the net.

The pressure mounted on the Youngstars defence with Windsor now having the majority of the game. It was soon to be 2-0 when a through ball from Kyle McFadden was picked up by Murray, who lobbed the keeper with a great finish.

The third goal came after some great passing football which started with Matthew Scotland, who played a ball to Ross Grieve to then find Murray and on to Keelan Adams, who fired the ball low past the keeper.

The game and the many supporters who turned out for both teams saw three great goals, the last one being the pick of the bunch, as Windsor were deserved winners.

Then on Sunday, Windsor’s under-19s were on cup final duty again, this time at the home of Bonnyrigg Rose, New Dundas Park, to contest the John Murphy Cup against a very good Edinburgh City Star team.

The Windsor boys started brightly and could have taken the lead with just minutes on the clock when McFadden found the ball at his feet following a miskick from the City keeper, only to find the side netting.

The first goal wasn’t long in coming: a slick passing move involving Declan Paterson, Ryan McMurdo and Mdalansi saw Paterson apply the finish after continuing his impressive run into the box.

City pressed and got their deserved equaliser in the second half but within minutes Windsor went 2-1 up with a fine finish from McFadden after an impressive trademark Grieve mazy.

With just minutes left to play, City were handed a lifeline when Gary Ewing was harshly judged to have handled the ball after it was fired at him. City scored the resulting penalty to make the score 2-2 at the end of normal time.

City thought they had sealed the win following a goal in the first half of extra time but the Windsor boys weren’t finished yet and, after an old-fashioned stramash, the ball was bundled over the line from close range by McMurdo to make it 3-3.

Windsor then won the match 5-3 on penalties, with all five penalty-takers scoring – Cami Laidlaw, Adams, Scotland, McFadden and Grieve – and goalkeeper Fraser Machray pulling off a fantastic save to make the difference and win the cup for Windsor.

The game was a great advert for U19s football, with both teams deserving of great credit for an open and entertaining game of football.