YFS
Goalkeeper Chris Hampson was the hero for Fife Southern in the Summer Cup Final on Sunday, first keeping out Gary Kinsella’s effort before stepping up to score the winning penalty following a goalless 90 minutes at Denfield Park.
The game itself was a tense affair, with neither side able to control possession for any great length of time; but there were still plenty of chances for both sides to win the game before the final whistle.
With the energy of their two frontmen, Cameron Nicolson and Craig Lumsden, Kennoway always looked capable of creating something, but couldn’t seem to find their rhythm as chances came and went. The two combined to good effect early on, as Nicolson was released on the right to deliver a dangerous looking cross that was well defended by Fife Southern.
Nicolson then looked to latch onto a ball played over the Fife Southern defence, but Hampson was quick off his line to remove the danger. Daniel Hall then had a great chance for Fife Southern, but he slipped as he made contact and the shot was an easy save for Grant Henderson.
Nicolson was finding all sorts of space in between the Fife Southern defence, and he was able to get a shot away when played clear through on goal, but his effort was blocked as the game remained goalless.
It was a better passage of play from Kennoway though, and there was another chance soon after as the ball fell to Aaron Crookston inside the area, but he could only slice his volley wide.
Fife Southern looked dangerous on the counter attack and a quick break from their own penalty area ended with a cross to Sean Thomson at the back post, but his header was saved and held by Henderson.
Robbie Wilson went close with a free kick from all of 25 yards out, before playing Lumsden in on the right hand side of the area with a deft pass, but the ball got stuck under his feet before he could get a shot away and the chance was gone.
Kenzie O’Neil then released Sean Thomson as Fife Southern looked to take the advantage, but following another save from Henderson Matthew Byiers was unable to find the target as the game’s best chance came and went.
Kennoway had created a host of good chances themselves, but were unable to find their cutting edge. Nicolson headed over from a Liam Mann cross, before Kinsella took advantage of a sleeping Fife Southern defence to whip in another dangerous looking ball, which found Nicolson unmarked at the back post but, again, the forward was unable to convert.
The best chance of the half came right at the death and, once more, it fell to Nicolson. Following great work on the left from Lumsden to hook the ball across the face of goal, Nicolson was able to nod the ball goalwards but Hampson was able to scurry across his goal and claw the ball away to keep the scores locked at the interval.
