Saturday brought another West of Scotland YFL blockbuster to Dam Park, with three trophies up for grabs, and each decided by the odd solitary goal. First up, and with the best of day’s conditions, was the local derby between Ayr Boswell and Valspar in the President’s Cup final. Boswell boast an unblemished record this season but were to be pushed all the way by a well organised Valspar side without a goalkeeper in their ranks.

For long spells Boswell certainly showed why they are the unbeaten league leaders, with tidy possession football providing the platform behind the strikers up front. Gavin Todd was to weigh in with an impressive second half hat trick but it was Valspar who struck first blood to frustrate their town rivals for the opening period.

They had gone ahead after just four minutes, when alert opportunism allowed Ross Clark to close down David Miller's clearance, to round the keeper and stun the league leaders. It set the stage for a high tempo first half, with Boswell jolted into action in response.

After their slow start Boswell began to get their passing game going and carve out some openings of their own. Euan Muir’s shot was deflected wide on 10 minutes, with Daniel Wilson having another shot cleared off the line, as they sought to pin Valspar back in their own half. It was a strong response to going behind, but with all their possession football they were unable to capitalise.

Valspar weathered the storm, with Boswell mainly restricted to shots from long range. Joseph White’s shot fizzed just over on the half hour, with Stephen McLelland similarly unable to test rookie keeper with a shot from the edge of the box just after.

The stand in proved equal to Ayr’s best opportunity of the half, as Wilson went on a driving run through the heart of the Valspar defence, but the keeper stood up well to close down the shot and clear the danger.

With a narrow lead to protect Valspar began to push out and were pressing better in midfield, with Brendan Lynch and Lucas Eliot closing down Boswell’s playmaker McLelland. Without creating any further opportunities of their own they hung on for a half time lead to give their opponents much food for thought at the interval.

There was obviously a lot said in the Boswell dressing room as Valspar waited for their opponents to come out for the second half.  The strong words sparked a perfect start for the league leaders though, as they equalised almost from the first kick of the ball.

It came as Boswell finally got some width into their game and McLelland swung an early ball into the box to test Ross Nicholson’s command of his box. This time Todd nipped in ahead of the keeper to tap home the first of a second half trick, and get Boswell off to just the start they needed.

With renewed momentum now Boswell were surging forward in numbers, seeking to drive home their advantage. Eight minutes later they had turned this game around, as Todd this time took advantage of some space down the left side of the box to dash in on goal. His tight angled shot flashed through Nicholson's legs and into the net.

Valspar initially reacted well to going behind, battling well in midfield but couldn’t foster any cast iron chances. Instead Boswell extended their lead on 69 minutes, with what looked to be the game's crucial goal.

After good play on the edge of the box Daniel Robson helped the ball onto Todd on the edge of the box to fire home for his hat trick. Boswell’s clinical edge up front had proved the difference and turned the tie around.

It seemed to have killed the game for the next 10 minutes, as Boswell maintained control of possession and slowed the game down. Valspar weren’t getting a sniff of goal but just when the heads may have been dropping they conjured up a spectacular finale with the goal of the game.

There won’t have been many better this weekend, in fact as Gavin Scott ran on to a square ball outside the box to curl a phenomenal strike from the edge of the box, past a helpless 1 and into the postage stamp. It set up an edgy closing 10 minutes for Boswell, but they had just enough to see the game out.

Victory was just about deserved on the run of play, but Valspar made Boswell dig deep to come up with a second half performance. More silverware is now on the horizon as the winners now prepare for a crunch league decider next weekend against Crosshouse.