Five-star Athletic bank fourth trophy of season

Published on Wednesday 3 June 2009 10:00

LEITH ATHLETIC Under-19s clinched their fourth trophy of the season with a comfortable 5-1 win over Musselburgh Windsor in the Bob Bankier Cup final.

After a slow start Windsor settled first and may have taken the lead when great play by Danny Taylor set up Mark Moncrieff, whose shot agonisingly hit the post with Sean Patterson failing to latch on to the resulting rebound.

However, it was Athletic who took the lead on the half-hour mark when Darren Lavery converted left-back Jamie Burstow's in-swinging free-kick.

It was to get worse for Windsor five minutes later when Athletic made it two. Windsor defender Dale Murray's header failed to clear and the in the resultant melee left midfielder Lewis Martin fired in the second.

Athletic were in the driving seat and a third looked inevitable – it came just before half-time. A long throw by Leith right-back Christopher Barrie found the head of Paul Coleman whose flick on was inadvertently headed into his own net by Windsor defender Kyle McCartney.

As half-time approached, Athletic midfielder Lewis Martin could have put the game out of Windsor's reach with a fourth but he was unable to convert Barrie's beautifully flighted free-kick.

The second half brought more of the same with Windsor's defence struggling to withstand the movement of Athletic strikers Lavery and Jack Combe. These two were to combine for the best moment of the match in the 55th minute. Neat play by Coleman found Combe, whose wonderful, weighted flick with the outside of the foot found the onrushing Lavery who calmly slotted past the helpless Steven Greens.

Athletic's fourth was a demonstration of their superiority and capped a superb performance by Lavery whose return of two goals was fully deserved. Windsor were by now visibly frustrated and this culminated in a booking for midfielder Taylor who was cautioned for throwing the ball away.

The high temperature began to take its toll on the players and as the game began to stretch Athletic had a great chance to make it five. Again the outstanding Lavery was involved, combining on the right wing with Jason Stevens who powered past his marker and slid a low cross to the feet of Martin, who was unable to score with the net gaping. At the other end Windsor rallied and almost grabbed a goal themselves when Cammy Olten's curving free kick was well saved by goalkeeper David Duncan.

Athletic's influential midfielder Coleman began to control the tempo of the game and was involved in the fifth when he teed up Stevens whose powerful shot was deflected on to the crossbar by keeper Greens. But Greens' great save was in vain as the resultant rebound fell again to the feet of Stevens who slid home the fifth.

As the game neared its end Windsor grabbed a consolation goal through substitute James Conway. For the first time in the match, Athletic's defence, marshalled well by captain Neil Lowson, failed to clear and in the resultant confusion Conway headed home.

This was just consolation for a battling performance from the boys from Musselburgh but it was to be Leith Athletic's day as they received the Bob Bankier Cup from the sponsor's sons Martin and Derek Bankier

Leith Athletic: David Duncan, Christopher Barrie, Jamie Burtsow, Neil Lowson, Liam Rafferty, Johnny Coleman, Jason Stevens, Paul Coleman, Jack Combe, Darren Lavery, Lewis Martin, Antony Marziban, Matthew Hubbard, James Robson.

Musselburgh Windsor: Steven Greens, Dale Murray, Blair Montgomery, Cammy Olton, Kyle McCartney, James Carlyle, Mark Moncrieff, Danny Taylor, Darren Flynn, Ricky Hall, Sean Patterson, Lewis Mein, Ewan Skinner, James Conway, Gavin Somerville.