Strathaven Dynamos U17s battled to a hard-fought 5-1 win over Aston Villa in their LFDA B League match. The score line somewhat flattered the hosts, for whom goals from Calum Hymas, Sean Cunningham, Ethan Charlton and William Poulton saw off their rivals, who levelled through Craig Leitch early in the second half.

An even start to the match saw both sides create early opportunities to score, Taylor Wilkinson going close for Villa before a good headed back-pass from Scott Logan prevented William Poulton getting in on goal.

However, Poulton was the creator for his side’s opener moments later, crossing low for Calum Hymas to slide under Ben McNicol after just three minutes. Some good defending from Elliott Sorbie and Gregor Mitchell in the early stages of the game ensured their one goal lead lasted.

Hymas looked to double his own and his team’s tally with a trademark run from deep inside his own half, but fell at the last hurdle after being tackled just as he was about to enter the Villa penalty area.

The away side cranked up the pressure and were aggrieved when a controversial clearance-come-back pass from Mitchell wasn’t given, and Scott Roy went on to test Ross Dyet in the Strathaven goal with a firm effort which was well held by the keeper. Hymas was then perhaps lucky not to be booked for a hopeful dive after being put through on goal.

Sean Cunningham had two good chances in quick succession to double Strathaven’s advantage.

He was inches from connecting with another outstanding Poulton cross, before he headed wide from point blank range after a Connor Anderson corner. Strathaven’s centre backs were having a troubling few minutes, and a missed Elliott Sorbie clearance resulted in Roy going through on goal, but he could only fire his shot wide of the mark.

An injury scare for Mitchell put the game on hold, but the defender shrugged it off and battled on.

Taylor Wilkinson looked dangerous on the right flank, and his penalty claims after his cross struck the arm of Mitchell were waved away by the referee. Poulton then nipped in front of McNicol but headed narrowly wide, before Ben Brown performed a heroic tackle on his own goal line to prevent his side conceding again.

Leitch shot just over the bar from a good position after pressure from make-shift left back David Cameron, and a blocked Elliott Sorbie header from a Strathaven corner was the last action of an incident-filled first half.

Just five minutes into the second half, Mitchell’s topsy-turvy encounter continued after he gave away a penalty and was booked, although his claims that the foul took place outside of the penalty area looked to be valid.

However, Leitch calmly slotted into the bottom left corner of Dyet’s goal to get his side back on level terms and set the game up for an interesting finale.

However, Strathaven were back in front just six minutes later when Sean Cunningham confidently converted from Forbes Crawley’s nicely-weighted through ball.

Anderson sent a looping shot just over the bar, before Cunningham scored again with a sublime chip over McNicol from 25 yards. Kyle Johnston had an effort well saved by the opposing goalkeeper shortly afterwards, before Dyet sublimely preserved his side’s lead with a stunning reaction save from a deflected Andrew Carrick shot.

Hymas’ speculative scorpion-kick from a corner went just over the bar, and Villa striker Roy once again missed after being put through on goal when he was thwarted by Dyet.

Crawley should have scored himself but took too long, allowing his shot to be blocked. Sorbie followed suite, blocking well from a Wilkinson drive.

Finn Mooney and Mark Carrick had tightened their defensive line after Strathaven’s third goal, but were helpless when super-sub Ethan Charlton scored with his first touch of the ball, drilling the ball low into the bottom corner after some scrappy clearances.

Mark Carrick then gave away a penalty after a foul on Poulton, who dusted himself down to convert the spot-kick himself and ensure a comfortable finish to the game for Strathaven.