High School battle to the end earns glory

In front of a very large crowd, it was Balerno who got off to a dream start with Jamie Forsyth ghosting into the area to score with a fine shot from 12 yards after only two minutes.

The league winners could easily have gone farther ahead five minutes later when a Dean Crane free-kick from the edge of the area found Forsyth unmarked but his header crashed against the upright before being hacked away to safety.

Newbattle, who had seemed very nervous in the opening exchanges, began to settle with Liam Fellenger and Alistair Elliot controlling the midfield area for the remainder of the first half but found the well-organised Balerno defence hard to break down and could not fashion a clear-cut opportunity to seriously trouble goalkeeper Rory McBride.

Newbattle changed things tactically in the second half, moving captain Callum Gilzean into a more advanced role and right from the start pressed Balerno deeper and deeper.

A goal had to come and did so as Chris Kirkwood played a slide-rule pass to find Ryan Somerville on the left side of the area and the striker curled a fine shot into the net to claim the equaliser.

Newbattle continued to press and a super ball by Fellenger sent Somerville through but his shot from 16 yards went inches past the far post with the keeper beaten. McBride produced an excellent save a few minutes later to again deny the Newbattle striker, then it took a brave, last-gasp challenge from Ross McNaughton to prevent another effort on target.

But Balerno re-grouped after the break and amazingly took the lead with what was their first attack of the half. A long ball from Dean Crane found the impressive Forsyth who went past two Newbattle defenders before dinking the ball over keeper Steven Fraser – an exquisite finish, one worthy of winning any football match.

Newbattle almost made an immediate reply to that body blow with Craig Bonar's rasping shot from 20 yards flashing inches wide before T J Dickson and Allan Hay also came close as Newbattle threw everything in search of an equaliser.

As the time ticked away, the resolute Balerno defenders seemed to be going to win the day but, in the final minute of time added on, Fellenger's corner was knocked on by Jed White to Bonar who hammered the ball through a crowd of players to score at the near post.

It was heartbreaking for the hard-working Balerno side but few would have argued that it was not deserved.

However, the destination of the trophy was to be decided by penalties and the hero of the hour proved to be Newbattle keeper Fraser who saved all of the Balerno spot kicks with Gilzean, Galloway and Elliot netting for Newbattle.

The trophy was presented by Scottish Schools' FA President Ronnie Hamilton and Midlothian Councillor Peter Boyes, who congratulated both sides on the quality of entertainment they provided and the high degree of sportsmanship shown throughout a game brilliantly controlled by referee Willie MacKenzie.

A delighted Newbattle coach Joe Moore said: "After a start in which we seemed to freeze, we showed a huge amount of character to come back not once, but twice. The boys never gave up and got what they deserved."

Balerno: Rory McBride, Bradley Crane, Ben Carter, Danny Mayhew, Cem Uusal, Callum Case, Danny Brigan, Ross MacNaughton, Dean Crane, Chris Hendrie, Ross Dickson, Scott Paterson, Eric Williamson, Aaron Yule, Jamie Forsyth, Michael Lyon.

Newbattle: Steven Fraser, TJ Dickson, Duncan Wilson, Allan Hay, Callum Gilzean, Alistair Elliot, Liam Fellenger, Chris Kirkwood, Kyle Hill, Craig Bonar, Corey Galloway, Jed White, Shaun Currie, Jason Power, Blair Monteith.

Referee: Willie Mackenzie.