Lubby proves to be the hero as Hutchison Vale fight back to win

Published on Monday 19 May 2008 10:59

HUTCHISON VALE coach Derek McColl pointed out that the only difference between his side and fellow finalists Eskmills was the two saves pulled off by his side's goalkeeper Jack Lubby in the penalty shoot-out of the under-15 Federation of Hearts Supporters' Clubs Cup final.

Tynecastle Stadium played host to a gripping 100 minutes of football in front of a 200-strong partisan crowd, the teams tied at 1-1 after extra-time before Lubby made a name for himself facing the spot-kicks. McColl was as magnanimous in victory as his team had been determined on the field, saying it was a travesty that a game of such high quality had to be settled by penalties.

"There were two very good teams on the pitch," said the Vale coach, who added: "It was unfortunate that it took penalties to decide the result. There was no difference between the teams – just Jack's saves during the penalties."

The two sides' styles of play contrasted greatly from the off. Vale enjoyed the best part of possession and took the game to their opponents, whereas Eskmills were happy to use the pace of their players to produce a predominantly counter-attacking game. The Midlothian side's Grant Sandison was the first of the goalkeepers to exert himself, flying to his left to beat away Douglas Winning's 20-yard drive on nine minutes.

It wasn't until the half-hour mark that Eskmills managed to register a notable effort on goal, but the game's opening goal was worth the wait. A loose ball across the edge of the Vale penalty area was contested by the two No.6s – Craig Donaldson and Callum Lewis – and it was the former, Eskmills' flame-haired midfielder, who emerged with the ball and promptly shot from 15 yards into the bottom left-hand corner of Lubby's goal. It was a memorable moment for the youngster, scoring at the Gorgie Road end of Hearts' home, and he celebrated with little inhibition.

Of all the impressive footballing talent on the pitch, Donaldson caught the eye in the first half with his willing running.

Defender Winning was the standout for Vale with his bursts forward from the back and his keenness to take on and beat players became a trademark throughout the match.

Vale's Andrew Summers beat fellow No.8 Jack Hay at the corner flag on the right wing before crossing the ball into the box and Ross Paterson was on hand to sidefoot-volley a shot from close range, but Sandison displayed great reflexes to tip the ball on to the bar before it was cleared to safety. Shortly before half-time, Donaldson again tried his luck, attempting to bulge the same bottom-left section of Lubby's net, but this time the Vale goalkeeper was equal to the task and saved well.

Into the second half, the game retained its balance as both sides created plenty of openings. Winning's seductive skills on the edge of the penalty area on 42 minutes entrapped both David Gallagher and Donaldson, but with a free shot from 15 yards the Vale No.4 skewed his effort wide.

Eskmills introduced Andrew Lawson to add a different dimension to their forward line of Gallagher and Callum Connolly, and it was Lawson's quick one-two with Connolly on 53 minutes that almost brought the blues a second goal. Following the exchange of passes between the pair, substitute Lawson almost made a lasting early impression but Winning scampered back and threw a foot at the ball to knock it from the striker's path to goal. With nine minutes remaining and Vale chasing the game, Eskmills took advantage of the sparse defence of their opponent's goal and surged forward. Lubby left his goalline to gather the ball but took his eye off it, allowing Lawson the chance to score from the narrowest of angles from the bye-line.

The ball may have been heading goalward, but Kenny Aitchison showed admirable positional sense to be able to clear from the goalline and keep Vale in the hunt. This proved a pivotal point in affairs, as Vale finally scored with just a minute on the clock and forced the game into extra time.

Chris Macleod's deep cross from the left dropped perfectly to the far post and on to the head of Tyree Wilson, who nodded the ball into Sandison's net.

Referee William MacKenzie took the game into extra time but, throughout two halves of ten minutes each, only Ryan Sclater's weak shot at Lubby on 91 minutes came close to preventing a penalty shoot-out.

From the spot, both Eskmills' Connolly and Vale's Aitchison scored.

Lubby then sprung low to his right to push away Dean Walker's effort and Winning struck his 12-yard effort beyond the goalkeeper's dive.

Donaldson blotted his otherwise-unblemished copybook when his spot-kick was saved by the confident Lubby and, after Chris Macleod expertly smashed the ball into the top corner to make the score 3-1 after three penalties each, the crowd was treated to the bizarre spectacle of referee MacKenzie blowing for full-time and sending the Vale camp into raptures.

MacKenzie, upon consultation with league secretary Allan Archibald and the assistant referees, realised the error of his abrupt ending of the contest and swiftly halted Vale high-jinks to resume the shoot-out.

Eskmills Sam Fraser blasted his shot straight down the middle of Lubby's net but, with the blues requiring Sandison to save Vale's final two penalties, the task proved too great and Scott Ritchie's finish into the right-hand corner ensured victory for the Fords Road club.

Coach McColl, whose Vale side are out of the running for the league title but will contest the Division 1 League Cup final against Edinburgh City at Saughton Enclosure on Friday, May 23, said after the game:

"We can't win the league anymore, but I hope Eskmills go on to do it," he said. "They've done very well this season."

Hutchison Vale: Jack Lubby, Tyree Wilson, Kieran Watson, Douglas Winning, Scott Ritchie, Callum Lewis, Scott Coleman, Andrew Summers, Chris Macleod, Andrew Douglas, Ross Paterson, Steven Purvis, Ryan Tennant, Kenny Aitchison, Darren Leslie, Thomas Carr.

Eskmills: Grant Sandison, Sam Fraser, Callum Kerr, Ryan Sclater, Dean Walker, Craig Donaldson, Steven Bald, Jack Hay, Jack Todd, Callum Connolly, David Gallagher, Steven MacGregor, Andrew Lawson, Cameron Munro, Jordan Thomson, Jordan Clifton.