Beeslack find that little extra

OUT of the darkness, light. In fading visibility and in the absence of floodlights at a buzzing Paties Road stadium, Beeslack Thistle hit a winning goal in the second half of extra time to claim the South East Region under-14s Division 4 Edinburgh Cup against a valiant Edinburgh City Colts.

Beeslack sit top of the league table this season, regularly approaching double figures in terms of goals scored in games against the rest of the field. Indeed, last time they met Colts, the match ended 8-0 in favour of the Midlothian side, so the underdogs could have been forgiven a degree of trepidation going into this cup final.

But, spurred on by a colourful and vociferous crowd in Colinton, the teams proved evenly-matched, sharing a goal each in the first half only to draw blanks until the dying seconds of extra time. In truth, Beeslack endured an 'off' day while Colts seemed inspired by the sense of occasion – the two managers pointed out as much after the game. That sort of form, though, produced the tightest of contests that served to both shred the nerves of players and shorten the fingernails of spectators.

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Beeslack, as expected, had the majority of chances, but Colts' defensive trio of goalkeeper Andrew Grant, centre back Craig Lamb and captain Joe Strachan formed the bulwark of a stubborn back line. Lamb emerged more than once as the player to keep his side in the game, particularly in the latter stages of regulation time, by making crucial challenges and blocks and playing with exemplary maturity and stoicism.

Beeslack wingman Euan Goodall's delivery from the right proved the undoing of Colts' resistance early on. From his corner on ten minutes, floated in from the left, the rangy Beeslack captain Craig Sinclair strode in to power a downward header past Grant.

Despite the pressure they exerted in the opening half hour, Beeslack couldn't add to their lead, Goodall scuffing a shot after being played through by Mark Hall and Dean McCafferty striking the right-hand post after a low cross from Gary Watson.

Thistle were left to rue those chances spurned, as Colts equalised with their first attack – and one of their only forward forays throughout the match. David McKenzie showed superb enterprise on the left wing, turning Beeslack right back Liam Logan and, from the bye-line, sending a low cutback into the path of Scott Clark. Although Clark appeared to miscue his strike from ten yards, he applied sufficient purchase to send the ball spinning into the top right-hand corner of the net via post.

Beeslack should have restored their advantage shortly after half-time but Mark Hall, after playing a clever one-two with Sinclair on his way into the box, could only prod a weak shot at Grant's goal. The goalkeeper palmed the ball to his right, and although Thistle's Kieran Burt then picked up possession, he was forced wide of the goal and could only hit his shot into the side-netting.

Thistle appeared more assured by now, with Goodall and Hall taking control with their array of tricks and flicks. Colts' defence was under the cosh, but the imperious Lamb and the safe hands of Grant kept Thistle in check.

When Goodall surged through on goal with the opportunity of winning the game five minutes from the end, he showed too little incisiveness and belief in his undoubted talent, allowing Lamb to backtrack and make a vital saving tackle.

In extra time, Thistle continued to dominate and, although Burt was unable to hold his nerve in a one-on-one situation, skewing his shot wide of the post with just the goalie to beat, he re-emerged as the match winner just moments later.

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Approaching Grant's goal from left-of-centre, Burt poked a low shot from just inside the penalty area into the bottom right-hand corner to strike a cruel blow to Colts and win the cup for a deserving Beeslack.

Thistle coach Stuart Sinclair said: "We worked hard, and I'm more pleased with our work ethic than the result – we had to dig deep. I think that nerves got the better of the boys, but I'm delighted for them."

Meanwhile, Colts manager Shaun Kerr was a broken man after losing in such a manner.

He said: "We played well – it's just one of these things. I'm gutted, actually. Both sets of players tried their hardest, but for us to get beaten in extra time is heartbreaking. We'll come back stronger from this, though."

Edinburgh City Colts: Andrew Grant, Craig Lamb, Scott Clark, Danny Lawrence, Jake Mason, Connor Watson, Dylan Cochrane, David McKenzie, Stuart Kerr, Ryan Kerr, Michael Laurie, Jamie Turner, Joe Strachan, Jordan Turner, Alex Williams.

Beeslack Thistle: Billy Taylor, Liam Logan, Ben Carstairs, Dean McCafferty, Lee Murray, Calum Steel, Craig Sinclair, Gary Watson, Lewis Bowie, Euan Goodall, Jack Kidd, Mark Hall, Chris Murray, Shaun Galbraith, Kieran Burt, Fraser Amos.