YFS
Newcraighall Leith Vics 2001s sailed into the 4th round of the Scottish Youth FA Cup with an emphatic win over travelling Syngenta Juveniles. In extremely windy weather conditions not ideal for both players and spectators, the game managed to kick off exactly on 12pm at a cold Newcraighall Park.
The threat from crosses into the box was to prove important for Newcraighall on the day. Sean Ward found himself with space on the left time and time again and his crosses were pinpoint. Ward’s delivery found Yrick Gallentes but the striker shot wide.
With only eight minutes on the clock, Newcraighall found themselves ahead. The goal supplied from Ward and the first of many assists for the winger. A back post corner found an unmarked Andrew Mackay to nod home and get his side off the mark.
Just two minutes later, Newcraighall had doubled their lead. A long ball over the top from midfield released Brandon Blair, who coolly slotted past Euan Mackay to grab his first goal of the game.
Syngenta were stunned in the 11th minute when Newcraighall added another and showed no sign of slowing down. After excellent persistence from Gallentes, he managed to pick out Fynlay Connor in the box, whose dragged shot fell kindly to Blair with the big striker making no mistake from close range.
The visitors now had a near impossible task on their hands so early on in this game.
Most of the Newcraighall joy was coming from the left hand side through the pairing of Gallentes and Ward with Blair lurking in the box like a true striker should.
In the 31st minute, Blair took the tie further out of Syngenta’s reach with his second. After a powerful Gallentes run down the left, he looped a cross into the box for Blair to tower above the ‘keeper and head home.
On the stroke of half-time it was 5-0. With the most impressive goal of the game so far, Newcraighall went into the break very comfortable. Failure to clear in defence, saw Louis Flucker pick up the ball on the edge of the box. The midfielder prodded it onto Gallentes who played a lovely cushioned header into the path of Blair and again the sriker showed brilliant composure to simply place it past the ‘keeper.