Goal in each half sees City cruise to deserved success

Whites manager Steven Moncur was pleased his side had been rewarded for their efforts. He said: “From the first whistle our boys looked like they wanted it – they’ve put a lot in over the season.

“I think we had a bit more grit and determination that you need to win football matches. Fair play to Leith: they’ve been outstanding in the league this season, but to beat them in a final is sweet.”

City dominated the early goings and were not set back by missing early chances as they took the lead on 15 minutes.

After Leith had failed to clear the danger inside their own area, the ball found the feet of Dale Maitland, who put his penalty miss behind him to rifle his left-footed strike into the far corner past a despairing Campbell Johnston.

Leith seemed to waken up after going behind would create a great chance to level the scores soon after. Striker Murray Dickson found himself through on goal but his strike was well parried by City goalkeeper Adam Munro.

Leith flew out the traps early in the second half and were unfortunate not to level the game on 50 minutes. After a good cross from the left-wing, the ball found the feet of Brandon Brammer who was unfortunate to see his effort stopped by Munro in the City goal.

But it was City who would dominate the remainder of proceedings as they finally found some fluency in their play and began to take hold of the match.

Whites were not to be denied a second and indeed decisive goal, and they all but wrapped the match up shortly after when Anderson made it 2-0.

Striker Danny Caira pick the ball up in the danger zone and played a square ball to City’s talisman Maitland. The winger then found Anderson in a tight spot inside the penalty box, but he was able to poke the ball past Johnston and over the line.

Leith did pile forward in numbers throughout the second period, but all to often they found a resilient City defence, marshalled well by keeper Munro and skipper Connor Brownlie.

Late chances for Athletic did arise, but Gary Colbert’s side would have to settle for runners-up on this occasion.

However, the Leith gaffer can take heart from an unbeaten league campaign, where his side won 21 out of 21 matches.

After the match, Colbert said: “I think it was plain to see Edinburgh City wanted it more than us.

“We’ve had a cracking season winning every game in the league and I think a bit of complacency crept in.”

Leith Athletic ‘97: Campbell Johnston, Osama Mahmood, Keith Turner, Blair Kemp, Jesse Tucker, Leighton Paterson, Lewis Park, Lewis Robertson, Jack Watt, Brandon Brammer, Christopher Slater, Ryan Love, Ryan Colbert, Alex Fotheringham, Murray Dickson, Patrick Ryan.

Edinburgh City Whites: Adam Munro, Ali Greig, Kieran Smart, Connor Brownlie, Cameron Stark, Alex Falconer, Josh Urquhart, Danny Caira, Rory Anderson, Dale Maitland, Aaron Walker, Alex Murphy, Oliver Smart, Louis Gardiner.