YFS
Holytown Colts defied all odds to come from two goals down against Drumsagard AFC and emerge victorious in the U13s LFDA Cup Final.
A Lucas Ramsey double gave Drumsagard a two-goal cushion, but goals from Lennon Black, Aiden McFadden and Shaun Ward turned the game around in dramatic fashion.
A scrappy start to the game saw plenty of throw-ins, and the first real opening of the game saw a high Ramsey shot held well by Holytown keeper Robin Dingwall.
Ward turned superbly in the Drumsagard box but could only fire a tame effort at Nathen Coyne’s goal, before Ramsey glanced a header wide of the target.
Black had to be on his toes in the Holytown defence to prevent Josh Carroll finding space in behind, but could do nothing to thwart the opposition’s attack moments later.
A short headed back-pass from Scott McCallum allowed Craig Queen in on goal, but his effort could only strike the post. However, Ramsey was on hand to tap into an empty net and give his side the lead.
The striker doubled his own and his side’s tally just four minutes later, latching onto another under-hit Holytown back-pass and calmly slotted past Dingwall into the bottom right corner.
Ward had a great opportunity to pull a goal back for his side just moments after falling two behind, but after rounding Coyne and with the goal at his mercy, he couldn’t find the necessary power and saw Drumsagard defenders rush back to clear his tame effort.
Queen had a shot deflected just over the bar, but it was Holytown who found the net next, Black bulleting a header into the bottom corner from a delightful Sean Clark corner.
Jamie McLaughlin nearly found himself through on goal soon after, but was cynically fouled right on the edge of the penalty area. Clark fired the resulting free kick inches over the bar, before a stunning pass from Blair Shillady and a deft knockdown from Queen saw a fierce effort fly just over from Ramsey.
A sore looking but manageable injury to Connor Gracey and a half-chance for Shillady were the last actions of the first half, with the score remaining 2-1 heading into the break.