YFS
Picture the scene: Two sides lined up across the half way line doing their bit to show racism the red card whilst the Champions League theme music has to compete with one sides singing section, armed with nearly one flag per person, just to be heard. You would be forgiven for thinking this was another famous night at Anfield, however on this occasion it was the Under 16 inspiresport Scottish Youth FA Cup final between Giffnock SC and Longniddry Villa.
With the game underway to crescendo of noise, particularly from the Giffnock ultra's, the side from East Renfrewshire started on the front foot and after just three minutes Ben Conroy twisted and turned inside the right hand side of the box before getting his shot away which was smartly stopped by Villa goalkeeper Sam Capes.
Longniddry responded well when Lewis Inglis won the ball in the middle of the park and drove into space before releasing the ever dangerous Aiden Walsh who after beating his first man was thwarted by a great covering block which presented the first corner of the game,
The resulting corner in from the left was put directly on top of Giffnock goalkeeper Colin Thomas however a melee in the box let the Renfrewshire side off the hook when a foul was awarded and stopped any immediate danger.
The games first real chance came after 12 minutes when a long clearance from Longniddry's Ben Wright wasnt dealt with by the Giffnock defence and Nathan Muir raced in to try and take advantage of the error however after getting in behind the defence his touch was smothered by Thomas in the Giffnock goal who reached well to the danger.
Aiden Walsh began to grown in to the game for Villa and on 17 minutes he cut inside his man and played a delightful switch for Jack Macdonald to race on to, his first touch was excellent and he turned the defender to get on to his left foot but again Thomas was sharp off his line and narrowed the angle well to deny the Villa number seven.
Longniddry started to apply further pressure and this time Matthew McMillan released Walsh on the right who once again skipped by the first Giffnock shirt before being crowded out by a second covering defender. In an almost identical chance just moments later, Walsh again beats the first marker and this time is able to deliver a low cross in to the box however the ball gets stuck under Macdonald's feet and the chance goes begging.
With almost every attack going through Walsh he again wriggles free of two Giffnock shirts and releases Macdonald once more. The Villa forward this time checks in on his right foot and has his effort blocked, much to the frustration of Nathan Muir who felt the better option was to square the ball for him to tap home.
Down the other end Giffnock start to rally and end the half on a high themselves. James Dolan picked the ball up inside the box and danced through three defenders before forcing another smart stop from Capes in the Villa goal. The resulting corner is met by Jamie McEntegart however his glancing header goes agonisingly past the far post.
After a broken down Giffnock move on 36 minutes, Longniddry sprung on the counter which was the best move of the half and deserved better. The ball was won by Ben Wright after two colossal challenges and Inglis latched on to the loose ball and played a wonderfully weighted pass to Macdonald who teed up Muir but he dragged his effort harmlessly wide of the mark.
With just two minutes to half time, the deadlock was finally broken, but not the way that it had looked like going. Scott McMillan picked the ball up on the edge of the Villa box and was quickly surrounded by three blue shirts, he took his time and with great close control managed to shift the ball a yard to create the space for his looping effort which caught out Capes in the Longniddry goal.
