Tullibody go extra mile to end cracking final with a smile

Published on Saturday 22 May 2004 01:00

TULLIBODY beat Addiewell Hearts 4-3 in extra time to win the Visual Services East of Scotland Cup at Almondvale in what was voted one of the best finals in this prestigious event in recent years.

Addiewell, from the Lothian and Edinburgh AFA, looked to be "dead and buried" when trailing 2-0 at the halfway stage against the favourites from the McEwan’s Central League at the home of Livingston FC.

Goals from Chris McBrier in the opening minutes of what turned out to be a pulsating game of football and Colin Comrie in the 19th minute put Tullibody into what looked like an unassailable lead, but roared on by a massive support from the village of Addiewell, the West Lothian combine hit back in sensational style in the second half.

Tullibody could and should have been out of sight at the end of a first half they dominated as the Addiewell looked strangely subdued and they were outclassed the Clackmannanshire side.

The Tullibody midfielders controlled play and the Addiewell defence were under pressure throughout the first half, only great and determined defensive work along with a fair measure of good luck keeping the score down to 2-0.

But it was a completely different story in the second period and how the big crowd responded to the Addiewell resurgence.

When Steve Johnston pounced on a defensive mistake in the Tullibody goalmouth to poke a loose ball into the corner of the net to make the score 2-1, the huge roar from their supporters shook the stand to its foundations.

At the other end, it took a heroic save by Addiewell keeper Barrie Hunter to stop Tullibody from restoring their two-goal advantage.

But all hell was let loose midway through the half when Johnston broke free from his marker on the left wing and the Addiewell star raced in to place another great shot away from Greg Maitland in the Tullibody goal to make it 2-2.

That magnificent strike had turned the game on its head as it were and the crowd were kept in a frenzy as the play surged from end to end.

Hunter again came to the rescue of the Addiewell side, somehow managing to grab a hold of the ball while lying on the deck in another dramatic goalmouth incident.

When excellent match official Gordon Colbron blew for time up, it was at that stage anyone’s game.

With players suffering from cramp, it was going to take something special from either side to win the game and it duly came - from Tullibody.

They regained their composure shortly into the first period of extra time when big Neil McAvoy outjumped the static Addiewell defenders to head the ball over the line from close in. It was a bad goal for Addiewell to lose and even worse was to come when Kevin McBrier’s cross shot from the right skidded into the far corner of the net to make it 4-2.

But Addiewell still refused to buckle and what a magnificent fight they put up in the closing minutes.

Maitland picked up a bad knock when racing out of his goal to halt an Addiewell attack and it took a prolonged period of treatment before the goalkeeper could resume.

Despite pushing everyone up into attack, Addiewell just could not get the better of the big Tullibody defenders but, with time running out, Chris White finally made the breakthrough, firing a shot into the far corner of the Tullibody net after breaking away on the left.

But it was too little, too late and when the final whistle came it sparked a mini pitch invasion of the Tullibody contingent from the technical area as they raced on to congratulate their victorious team.

Tom Allison, one of the most respected figures in Scottish football and also a director of cup sponsors, Visual Services Scotland, presented the awards at the end of this superb game.

While Tullibody returned home with the cup and the winners medals, the man-of-the-match award went to Addiewell playmaker Alan Fleming - a popular choice with both teams and the fans on the terracing.

While Addiewell had to make do with the runners-up medals, it was still a great night for this emerging club that has won promotion to the Premier Division of the L&EFA next season.

Tullibody: Greig Maitland, Kevin McBrier, Chris McBrier, Colin McLeod, Graeme Press, Scott Gillanders, Colin Comrie, Neil McAvoy, Kenny McGowan, Stuart Clews, Steven Reynolds, Bruce Totten, Neil Kennedy, Gary Preston, Gary Peddie, Murray Wilkie.

Addiewell Hearts: Barrie Hunter, Andrew Arthur, Brian Rice, Stuart McKinnon, John McAuley, Keith Paton, Gordon Russell, Alan Fleming, Alistair Izzat, Steve Johnston, Anthony Grieve, Martin Wilson, Robert McDowall, Joseph Murray, Chris White, Davy Carmichael.

Referee: Gordon Colbron.