A solid team performance from Glenburn MW was enough for them to lift the U14’s West of Scotland YFL Presidents Cup against league rivals, Bellfield Royals, thrashing the Kilmarnock side 7-2.

A hat-trick for striker Evan Knox and a brace from Mackenzie Ewing as well as goals from Lewis Muir and Josh Taylor comfortably sealed the cup for the West of Scotland league champions in what was a well contested match.

Glenburn, who have only lost one league game all season got off to a flying start after withstanding some early pressure from The Royals. The Bellfield defence cleared the ball, but only into the path of Ewing on the edge of the box who rifled his first time shot into the bottom right corner to give his team an early breakthrough.

Evan Knox then almost single-handily doubled Glenburn’s lead shortly after. He picked the ball up on the right wing, just inside Bellfield’s half, and drove with the ball into the box and fired a cross-come shot across the face of goal which went narrowly wide of the far post.

However, Knox did get off the mark soon after when Ewing provided a superb assist, lifting the ball over the defender’s head for the striker to pounce onto and poke the ball past the helpless Max Haliday in goal.

Bellfield were trying hard to clinch a goal back after a double setback, although the only danger they could cause was courtesy of a speculative effort from Bradley Paterson from 30 yards out which was comfortably saved by Cole Millen.

On 24 minutes Calum Mabon skipped by his marker on the right wing and swung in an inch perfect cross for Lewis Muir, who was in ackers of space at the back post, to head Glenburn even further into the lead.

The Bellfield boys looked down and out- they were struggling to cope with Glenburn’s physicality in midfield and the balls in behind the defenders. However, when you’re down, sometimes all you need is a little bit of magic. Aaron Kerr collected the ball on the far side of the box and within a blink of an eye, he twisted and turned his way past the Glenburn defender and put the ball on a plate for Darren Brown to make it 3-1.

However, Bellfield could not continue to keep up the intense pressure and four minutes later Knox scored his second of the match. Muir squared the ball to his strike partner to tap home in the six-yard box.

This would be the last action of the half as the referee signalled for the break, in what was a dominant showing from Glenburn.

The second half didn’t begin any better for Bellfield, as one of their defender’s attempted clearances smacked off Josh Taylor from a metre out to make the score 5-1 following a corner.

Knox then missed a sitter when it looked harder to miss than to score what should have been his hattrick. The striker received the ball from Muir and with the whole goal to aim at and only the keeper to beat, his shot from 12 yards rebounded off the bar.

Bellfield managed to pull a second goal back not long after. A corner came in and the ball fell to the feet of David Sawyers whose snap shot was saved at point blank range by Millen, who could only parry into the direction of Adam Caddis who tapped in from close range.

Up the other end, Haliday was called into action as he made a superb save down low to his right to deny a goal bound shot from Ewing onto the post.

Bellfield continued to press high and their pressure looked promising as Glenburn’s defence scrambled to clear a few corners.

Although, when you’re chasing a goal, there’s always a chance of being hit on the counter.

A quick breakaway from a Bellfield corner saw Knox collect the ball just outside the Bellfield box after the ball was cleared. He found Ewing all alone in the box and he coolly chipped the ball over Haliday to score Glenburn’s sixth of the game.

The rout was completed seven minutes from time when Ewing drilled in a corner along the deck to find Knox, who peeled away from his marker, to finish with a deft touch into the bottom left corner of the net and round off Glenburn’s stylish victory and seal his hattrick.

The referee blew the full time whistle to commence Glenburn’s celebrations and put Bellfield out of their misery. As the result suggests, Glenburn fully deserved the cup glory and put on a solid display to thrash Bellfield in the end. Bellfield put up a good fight, especially considering they had no substitutes, but Glenburn were just too hot to handle.