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The first of four Sunday’s finals at New Countess Park in Dunbar was Newcraighall Leith Vics up against Hutchison Vale at under 13’s age group. Newcraighall took the lead through a Yrick Gallantes header. 

 

Hutchie created the first chance of the match, Luis Malcolm beating the offside to fire low across Tyler McGhee, the goalkeeper saved well , and Luke McMahon followed up but McGhee was up quickly to push the rebound away for a corner. The corner came in and McGhee was brave coming through a crowd of bodies to punch away. Superb goalkeeping from him.

 

The first goal of the match came from Newcraighall. A corner swung into the penalty spot, Yrick Gallantes leaped, and powered his header past Ciaran Cairns to put Newcraighall a goal to the good. 

 

After losing the goal, Hutchie looked the stronger team for long periods of the first half. 20 minutes into the game, McMahon easily beat 3 Newcraighall players to feed the ball wide to Brandon Blair. The wingers’ cross was blocked by Josh Sharkey but fell to Hutchie left back Nathan Hill, but he dragged his shot wide of the post from 18 yards out. 

 

Newcraighall almost double their lead through John Robertson. The nimble striker worked his way across the edge of the penalty area, found space for the shot, it deflected off of a Hutchie defender and onto the crossbar. Robertson so unlucky with his effort.

Shortly after the break, Newcraighall doubled their lead. Louis Flucker played the ball wide to Jordan Daly. The winger used his pace to beat Nathan Hill, crossed low towards the neat post, and Gallantes doubled his tally for the afternoon with a low front post diving header. 2-0 Newcraighall. 

 

In double quick time, they went 3-0 up, Gallantes completing his hat-trick. He ran with the ball 30 yards after he headed past his marker beforeblasting the ball into the top right hand corner with his left foot to make it 3-0 to Newcraighall.

 

Hutchie weren't finished and soon pulled a goal back. Hill bombed down the left wing, pulled the ball back for McMahon who found himself in some space 12 yards out to slot past McGhee. 3-1 and possibly game on. 

 

Newcraighall looked very comfortable on the ball, with Flucker instrumental in the middle of midfield. His latest wonder pass was over the top towards Sean Ward who finished well, and the Newcraighall supporters were celebrating goal number 4, but the far side assistant had his flag up early. Marginal, but a good call by the linesman. 

 

Newcraighall make it 4-1 through that man Gallantes again. He received the ball on the corner of the penalty area. He cut in then out to confuse Ross Young and then fired low across Cairns into the bottom corner. Everything he touched has turned to goals. 4-1 Newcraighall. 

 

That was to be the final act of a game, as referee Jim Markey signalled the end of the match with Newcraighall running out 4-1 winners.