Blair Innes scores winner to lift namesake Cup

Easthouses and Spartans Reds produced an encounter of true quality, with the Midlothian side's Blair Innes scoring the decisive goal in a penalty shootout in the final of the South-East Region under-14 David Innes Cup.

On a glorious dusky evening at New Dundas Park the game began as a cagey affair.

Easthouses just edged the opening stages with Innes slamming a hard shot at goal from the edge of the box, however it was straight at Jack Morton in the Spartans goal who gratefully collected.

Spartans seemed awoken by the threat and began to mount pressure onto the Easthouses defence, with Scott Easton steering a shot right at Chris Ramage in the Easthouses goal. The Spartans pressure did pay off just before half-time, though, through a moment of brilliance.

Calum Cowan picked the ball up on the edge of the box and ventured forward before rattling a 25-yard dipping strike into Ramage's bottom left corner, deceiving the goalkeeper and putting the Reds into the lead.

Easthouses' perseverance was to be rewarded when Kristopher Sneddon was deemed to be upended in the box, and referee Ross McAdam pointed to the spot. Carter stepped up, and smashed the ball to Morton's right hand side, a fine finish to put Easthouses back on level terms.

In another twist in the tale, Easthouses found themselves with a free kick almost 25 yards from goal in extra time.

Some debate took place between substitutes Callum Bain and Dean Johnson as to who would take the set piece, but it was Bain who stepped up and curled a tremendous free kick into Morton's left hand corner and put Easthouses in front.

Spartans were shell shocked, having looked comfortable until the latter stages of the first half, and were grateful to striker Ryan Currie who bombed forward soon after the restart, and evaded two challenges before slotting under Ramage to equalise for Spartans and send the tie to penalties. Easthouses' Ross Moir, William Hutchison and Carter all converted, and Spartans Josh King and Cowan both missed from the spot.

It was left to Innes to strike the decisive penalty; he . went for power and launched his shot high into the centre of the net.

Easthouses: Chris Ramage, William Hutchison, Robbie Carter, Kristopher Sneddon, Euan Greig, Kieran Hosie, Michael McFarlane, Euan Russell, Connor McCallion, Ross Moir, Liam Thomson, Blair Innes, Subs: Dayle Orr, Callum Bain, Dean Johnson.

Spartans Reds: Jack Morton, Chris Pringle, Calum Paton, Jordan Lock, Josh King, Joe Newman, Scott Easton, Calum Cowan, an Langmuir, Ryan Currie, Conal Henderson Subs: Alex Connolly, William Shepherdson, Fergus Clelland, Aaron Heinemeir, Rory Martin.